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Within his newly released autobiography, named Ithaki, the former prime minister Tsipras spares no criticism as he examines that turbulent era of Greece's financial crisis.

A Controversial Choice

In Tsipras's account, Tsipras selected the maverick academic Yanis Varoufakis to be the treasury head largely due to his worldwide fame along with his “extremely attractive” skills as a speaker.

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

Clashing Priorities

Tsipras alleges that Varoufakis had his own agenda that included promoting his books and experimenting with his own game theories using the nation instead of truly fighting for the country's economic stability.

Tsipras explained how those discussions to prevent insolvency became “not only a way of achieving a better deal for the country. They were an experiment, a monumental chance to demonstrate the truth of his theories.”

High-Stakes Negotiations

Amid volatile discussions, Greece came dangerously close to leaving the single currency area.

On the line lay both Greece's future but also those severe cutbacks required in exchange for rescue loans by international creditors.

Unsuccessful Options

Efforts to secure funds from other sources, including a desperate appeal to Russia to buy Greek government bonds, fell on stony ground.

Helping the indebted country would be equivalent to throwing money into the garbage, the Russian leader is reputed to have told his Greek counterpart in Moscow.

Public Vote Followed by Reversal

In July 2015, those excoriating bailout terms were subjected to a public vote, an action which plunged the EU into a deeper existential crisis.

Even though the vote was won decisively by voters against austerity, the prime minister was forced to ignore the result then agree to a bailout package from foreign lenders which proved to be tougher.

Final Straw

The ex-PM claimed that he began to doubt his finance minister relatively soon.

“He was the face of negotiation, the figure who attracted media attention, who appeared on the covers of magazines the world over … he gave the impression he was enjoying the spotlight.”

When the minister outlined a backup strategy involving creating a parallel currency and distributing coupons to retirees, Tsipras knew it was game over and asked him: “Are you serious?”

Lasting Rebuke

Within the memoir, the author concludes how his former ally demonstrated himself “unfit for an agreement that required complex and delicate management.”

Tsipras also claimed how Varoufakis's confrontational approach left him more and more alone among peers, put Greece at risk, while assisted hawks that were advocating Grexit.

This account of events has provoked anger and shock in some quarters, whereas the former minister has maintained a deafening silence regarding these claims.