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Within his recently unveiled personal account, titled Ithaki, the former premier Tsipras does not hold back as he examines the turbulent era of Greece's economic turmoil.

A Controversial Choice

As per the ex-PM's recollections, he appointed the maverick academic Yanis Varoufakis as his treasury head primarily because of his global profile along with his very persuasive abilities when it came to speaker.

“He was, in reality, more of a personality rather than an economist,” recalled Tsipras.

Conflicting Agendas

Tsipras suggests how his finance chief possessed his own motives that involved promoting Varoufakis's publications and experimenting with his own game theories using Greece instead of genuinely fighting for its economic stability.

Tsipras noted how those discussions to prevent insolvency became “not just a way to secure improved terms for Greece. They became an experiment, an historic chance to demonstrate the validity of Varoufakis's ideas.”

Critical Negotiations

During tense negotiations, the country found itself dangerously on the brink of exiting the eurozone.

At stake was not only the country's destiny and those punishing austerity measures demanded in return for bailout funds from international creditors.

Failed Options

Attempts to find funds elsewhere, including an urgent plea to the Kremlin to buy Greek government bonds, fell on stony ground.

Assisting Greece would be equivalent to tossing cash in the trash-can, the Russian leader reportedly told Tsipras in Moscow.

Public Vote and U-Turn

In July 2015, those excoriating bailout terms were subjected to a popular referendum, a move which plunged Europe into a further crisis of identity.

Even though the referendum was won resoundingly by voters against the cuts, Tsipras had little option but to ignore the result and negotiate a rescue deal from foreign lenders that turned out to be tougher.

Breaking Point

The ex-PM claimed that he started questioning his finance minister relatively soon.

“Varoufakis was the public image of negotiation, the man who drew media attention, who graced the covers of publications globally … it seemed he relished his new role.”

When Varoufakis proposed a contingency plan that included establishing a secondary currency as well as issuing coupons to pensioners, Tsipras knew that it was game over and asked Varoufakis: “Can you be serious?”

Enduring Criticism

Within the memoir, the author concludes that his former ally had proved himself “unfit for an agreement that required intricate and delicate management.”

He also wrote how his confrontational style left him increasingly isolated among peers, put Greece at risk, and assisted hardliners who were advocating a Greek exit from the euro.

The retelling of events has provoked anger and shock among certain groups, whereas Varoufakis has kept a conspicuous quiet on the matter.