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Within his newly released personal account, named Ithaki, the former premier Alexis Tsipras does not hold back as he examines that chaotic period during Greece's financial crisis.

An Unconventional Choice

In Tsipras's version, Tsipras chose that maverick academic Yanis Varoufakis to be his finance minister mainly because of the latter's worldwide fame and his “extremely attractive” abilities when it came to speaker.

“In reality, he was, truthfully, more like a personality and less of an economist,” stated the 51-year-old.

Clashing Agendas

Tsipras alleges that Varoufakis had his own motives which involved advancing Varoufakis's publications as well as testing out his game theories using the nation rather than genuinely advocating its economic stability.

Tsipras noted that those discussions to stave off insolvency were “not only a method of achieving improved terms for Greece. They were a test, an historic opportunity to demonstrate the validity of his ideas.”

High-Stakes Talks

During tense negotiations, the country came perilously close to leaving the single currency area.

On the line lay both the country's future and the harsh austerity policies demanded in return for financial aid from foreign lenders.

Unsuccessful Alternatives

Efforts to secure funds from other sources, such as an urgent plea to the Kremlin to buy Greek bonds, fell on stony ground.

Helping Greece would be tantamount to tossing cash into the garbage, Putin is reputed to have told his Greek counterpart during their meeting.

Referendum Followed by Reversal

That summer, those harsh conditions were subjected to a popular referendum, an action which threw the EU into further crisis of identity.

Although the referendum was carried decisively by those who opposed the cuts, Tsipras was forced but to ignore the result and agree to a bailout package with creditors that turned out to be more severe.

Final Straw

Tsipras revealed that he began to doubt Varoufakis relatively soon.

“Varoufakis was the public image of negotiation, the man who drew publicity, who graced the covers of magazines globally … it seemed he relished the spotlight.”

When the minister outlined a contingency plan that included creating a secondary currency and distributing coupons to pensioners, Tsipras said he realised it was the end questioning him: “Are you serious?”

Lasting Criticism

Within the book, Tsipras concludes that Varoufakis had proved himself to be “unsuitable for a deal demanding intricate and sensitive management.”

Tsipras further wrote that Varoufakis's aggressive style made him increasingly isolated among peers, endangered the country, while assisted hawks that were pushing for Grexit.

The account of history has provoked anger and shock in some quarters, whereas the former minister has maintained a deafening silence on the matter.