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Within his recently unveiled autobiography, titled Ithaki, the former premier Alexis Tsipras does not hold back while he reflects on the turbulent period during Greece's financial crisis.

A Controversial Appointment

According to Tsipras's account, he selected that maverick economist Yanis Varoufakis to be his finance minister primarily because of his worldwide fame along with his very persuasive abilities when it came to speaker.

“He was, actually, more like a star and less of an economist,” stated Tsipras.

Conflicting Priorities

Tsipras suggests that his finance chief possessed his own agenda which involved advancing Varoufakis's books and experimenting with his own game theories using Greece rather than truly advocating the country's financial survival.

Tsipras explained that the talks to prevent insolvency became “not only a way of achieving a better deal for Greece. They became an experiment, a monumental chance to demonstrate the validity of his theories.”

High-Stakes Negotiations

During tense negotiations, the country found itself perilously close to exiting the eurozone.

On the line was both the country's destiny and those severe austerity policies demanded in exchange for rescue loans from international creditors.

Unsuccessful Options

Attempts to find financing elsewhere, including an urgent appeal to the Kremlin to buy Greek government bonds, were rejected.

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

Referendum and Reversal

In July 2015, those punitive bailout terms were subjected to a public vote, an action that threw Europe into further crisis of identity.

Although the referendum was carried resoundingly by voters who opposed austerity, Tsipras had little option but to ignore the result then negotiate a bailout package from creditors which turned out to be more severe.

Final Straw

The ex-PM revealed that he started questioning his finance minister quite early on.

“Varoufakis was the public image of the talks, the figure who drew publicity, who graced the front pages of magazines the world over … he gave the impression he was enjoying his new role.”

After the minister outlined a contingency plan involving establishing a parallel currency as well as distributing coupons to retirees, Tsipras knew it was the end and asked him: “Is this for real?”

Enduring Criticism

In the memoir, Tsipras asserts that Varoufakis had proved himself “unfit for a deal demanding intricate and delicate management.”

Tsipras also wrote that Varoufakis's aggressive approach left him increasingly isolated with colleagues, endangered the country, while assisted hawks who were pushing for a Greek exit from the euro.

The retelling of history has provoked anger and stunned disbelief in some quarters, while the former minister has maintained a conspicuous quiet on the matter.