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In a newly released personal account, titled Ithaki, the ex- leader Alexis Tsipras pulls no punches while he reflects on the turbulent era during Greece's financial crisis.

An Unconventional Appointment

As per Tsipras's account, he appointed the unorthodox academic Varoufakis as his treasury head largely due to his global profile and Varoufakis's highly compelling abilities as a public orator.

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

Conflicting Priorities

Tsipras alleges how his finance chief possessed a personal motives which included advancing his publications and experimenting with his theories using the nation instead of truly advocating the country's financial survival.

He wrote how the talks to prevent insolvency were “not only a method to secure a better deal for Greece. They became a test, an historic chance to prove the truth of Varoufakis's theories.”

High-Stakes Negotiations

During tense discussions, Greece came perilously close to exiting the single currency area.

At stake lay not only Greece's future and the punishing austerity policies required in exchange for bailout funds by foreign lenders.

Unsuccessful Options

Efforts to find funds from other sources, such as a desperate plea to Russia to purchase Greek bonds, went unanswered.

Assisting Greece was equivalent to tossing cash into the garbage, the Russian leader is reputed to have told his Greek counterpart during their meeting.

Referendum and U-Turn

That summer, the punitive conditions were subjected to a public vote, an action which threw Europe into a deeper crisis of identity.

Although the vote was won resoundingly by those who opposed the cuts, the prime minister had little option to reject its outcome then agree to a rescue deal from foreign lenders that turned out to be even harsher.

Breaking Point

The ex-PM claimed that he started questioning Varoufakis quite early on.

“Varoufakis was the public image of the talks, the figure who attracted media attention, who graced the covers of magazines globally … it seemed he was enjoying the spotlight.”

When Varoufakis outlined a contingency plan that included establishing a secondary currency as well as distributing vouchers to pensioners, the leader knew it was the end and asked him: “Are you serious?”

Enduring Criticism

Within the book, Tsipras asserts how his former ally had proved himself to be “unsuitable for a deal demanding complex and delicate management.”

Tsipras also wrote how his confrontational style left him more and more alone among peers, endangered the country, and assisted hawks who were advocating Grexit.

The retelling of events has provoked anger along with shock in some quarters, while the former minister has so far maintained a deafening silence regarding these claims.