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Within his freshly published memoir, named Ithaki, the ex- leader Tsipras pulls no punches as he examines that chaotic era during Greece's financial crisis.

An Unconventional Appointment

In Tsipras's account, Tsipras appointed that unorthodox academic Yanis Varoufakis to be his finance minister primarily due to his international reputation along with Varoufakis's “extremely attractive” abilities as a speaker.

“In reality, he was, actually, more like a personality and less of an economic expert,” stated Tsipras.

Clashing Agendas

Tsipras suggests that his finance chief had a personal agenda that included advancing Varoufakis's publications as well as testing out his economic models using the nation rather than truly fighting for the country's economic stability.

Tsipras wrote how the discussions to avoid insolvency were “not only a method of achieving improved terms for the country. They became a test, a monumental chance to prove the truth of his theories.”

High-Stakes Negotiations

During tense negotiations, Greece came perilously close to leaving the eurozone.

On the line lay both Greece's destiny but also those harsh austerity policies demanded in exchange for bailout funds from foreign lenders.

Unsuccessful Options

Attempts to find funds from other sources, including an urgent appeal to Russia to buy Greek government bonds, went unanswered.

Assisting Greece was equivalent to throwing money into the garbage, Putin reportedly informed Tsipras in Moscow.

Public Vote Followed by Reversal

That summer, those excoriating bailout terms were put to a popular referendum, a move which plunged the EU into deeper existential crisis.

Even though the referendum was won resoundingly by those who opposed the cuts, the prime minister had little option to ignore the result then agree to a bailout package with creditors that proved to be more severe.

Final Straw

Tsipras claimed that he started questioning Varoufakis quite early on.

“He was the public image of negotiation, the figure who attracted media attention, who appeared on the front pages of magazines the world over … it seemed he relished the spotlight.”

After Varoufakis outlined a contingency plan involving establishing a secondary currency and distributing coupons to pensioners, the leader knew it was the end and asked him: “Is this for real?”

Enduring Criticism

Within the book, the author concludes how his former ally demonstrated himself to be “unfit for an agreement demanding intricate and delicate management.”

Tsipras further wrote that his aggressive approach made him more and more alone with colleagues, endangered the country, while helped hardliners who were advocating Grexit.

This account of events has been met with anger and stunned disbelief among certain groups, while the former minister has so far maintained a conspicuous quiet regarding these claims.