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Within his freshly published personal account, named Ithaki, the former premier Tsipras pulls no punches while he reflects on that turbulent era of Greece's economic turmoil.

A Controversial Appointment

In Tsipras's account, Tsipras selected that unorthodox economist Yanis Varoufakis to be the finance minister primarily because of the latter's worldwide fame along with Varoufakis's highly compelling skills as a public orator.

“He was, truthfully, more like a personality rather than an economist,” recalled the 51-year-old.

Conflicting Priorities

The former leader suggests that Varoufakis possessed his own agenda that involved promoting his publications and experimenting with his own game theories on the nation instead of truly fighting for its financial survival.

Tsipras explained how the negotiations to stave off bankruptcy were “not just a method to secure a better deal for the country. They became a test, a monumental chance to prove the validity of his economic theories.”

Critical Negotiations

Amid tense negotiations, Greece came perilously on the brink of exiting the single currency area.

At stake was not only the country's destiny and the harsh cutbacks required in exchange for financial aid by foreign lenders.

Failed Options

Attempts to secure funds from other sources, such as a desperate plea to the Kremlin to purchase Greek government bonds, fell on stony ground.

Helping Greece was equivalent to throwing money into the garbage, the Russian leader is reputed to have told his Greek counterpart during their meeting.

Public Vote Followed by U-Turn

That summer, the excoriating bailout terms were subjected to a public vote, an action which plunged Europe into a further existential crisis.

Even though the vote was won resoundingly by voters who opposed the cuts, the prime minister had little option to ignore the result then agree to a rescue deal with foreign lenders that turned out to be more severe.

Final Straw

Tsipras claimed how he began to doubt his finance minister quite early on.

“Varoufakis was the face of the talks, the figure who drew media attention, who graced the covers of publications globally … it seemed he was enjoying his new role.”

After Varoufakis outlined a contingency plan involving creating a parallel currency as well as issuing vouchers to pensioners, the leader knew that it was game over and asked Varoufakis: “Are you serious?”

Lasting Rebuke

Within the memoir, Tsipras concludes that Varoufakis demonstrated himself “unfit for a deal demanding complex and delicate handling.”

He also wrote how Varoufakis's confrontational style made him more and more alone among peers, put Greece at risk, while helped hardliners that were advocating Grexit.

This retelling of events has been met with anger along with shock in some quarters, while Varoufakis has so far maintained a deafening silence on the matter.