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In a newly released personal account, titled Ithaki, the ex- prime minister Alexis Tsipras spares no criticism as he reflects on that chaotic era during Greece's financial crisis.

An Unconventional Choice

In the ex-PM's account, Tsipras chose that unorthodox economist Yanis Varoufakis as his treasury head mainly due to his worldwide fame along with his highly compelling skills as a public orator.

“In reality, he was, truthfully, more of a star rather than an economist,” recalled Tsipras.

Conflicting Agendas

The former leader alleges that Varoufakis possessed his own motives which included promoting Varoufakis's publications and testing out his own game theories using Greece rather than truly advocating its financial survival.

He wrote how those negotiations to prevent bankruptcy became “not just a method of achieving improved terms for Greece. They became a test, an historic opportunity to demonstrate the validity of his ideas.”

Critical Negotiations

Amid tense negotiations, Greece found itself dangerously close to leaving the single currency area.

On the line was both Greece's future but also those severe cutbacks demanded in return for rescue loans from international creditors.

Unsuccessful Alternatives

Efforts to find financing from other sources, such as an urgent plea to the Kremlin to buy Greek government bonds, were rejected.

Helping Greece was tantamount to tossing cash into the garbage, Putin reportedly informed his Greek counterpart in Moscow.

Public Vote and U-Turn

In July 2015, the harsh conditions were put to a popular referendum, a move that threw Europe into further existential crisis.

Even though the vote was carried resoundingly by voters who opposed austerity, Tsipras was forced to reject its outcome and agree to a rescue deal with foreign lenders that proved to be tougher.

Breaking Point

Tsipras revealed that he started questioning his finance minister relatively soon.

“He was the face of the talks, the man who drew media attention, who graced the front pages of publications globally … it seemed he relished the spotlight.”

When Varoufakis proposed a contingency plan involving creating a parallel currency as well as distributing coupons to retirees, Tsipras said he realised that it was the end and asked him: “Are you serious?”

Lasting Criticism

Within the book, the author concludes how his former ally had proved himself “unfit for a deal demanding complex and delicate handling.”

He further claimed how his confrontational style left him more and more alone with colleagues, put Greece at risk, and helped hardliners that were advocating Grexit.

The account of events has been met with fury along with shock in some quarters, while Varoufakis has so far maintained a conspicuous quiet on the matter.