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Within his newly released personal account, titled Ithaki, the former premier Tsipras does not hold back as he revisits that turbulent period of Greece's financial crisis.

An Unconventional Choice

As per Tsipras's account, he selected the unorthodox academic Yanis Varoufakis to be his finance minister mainly due to the latter's international reputation and Varoufakis's “extremely attractive” skills as a speaker.

“He was, truthfully, more like a celebrity and less of an economist,” stated the 51-year-old.

Clashing Agendas

Tsipras alleges how his finance chief had his own agenda that involved advancing his books as well as testing out his own game theories using Greece rather than truly fighting for its financial survival.

Tsipras noted how the talks to stave off insolvency were “not just a method to secure a better deal for the country. They were an experiment, a monumental opportunity to demonstrate the truth of his ideas.”

Critical Negotiations

Amid volatile discussions, Greece came perilously close to leaving the eurozone.

At stake was not only Greece's destiny and the punishing cutbacks demanded in return for financial aid by foreign lenders.

Unsuccessful Options

Efforts to secure financing from other sources, such as an urgent plea to the Kremlin to purchase Greek government bonds, fell on stony ground.

Helping the indebted country was tantamount to tossing cash into the garbage, the Russian leader is reputed to have told his Greek counterpart in Moscow.

Public Vote Followed by U-Turn

That summer, the punitive conditions were put to a public vote, a move which threw the EU into further existential crisis.

Although the referendum was carried resoundingly by those who opposed the cuts, the prime minister was forced to reject its outcome and negotiate a bailout package with foreign lenders which turned out to be even harsher.

Breaking Point

Tsipras revealed that he began to doubt his finance minister relatively soon.

“Varoufakis was the public image of the talks, the man who drew media attention, who graced the front pages of publications globally … he gave the impression he relished the spotlight.”

After the minister proposed a backup strategy that included establishing a secondary currency and issuing vouchers to retirees, Tsipras knew it was game over and asked him: “Are you serious?”

Enduring Rebuke

Within the memoir, Tsipras asserts how Varoufakis had proved himself to be “unsuitable for an agreement that required intricate and delicate handling.”

He further claimed how Varoufakis's aggressive style made him more and more alone among peers, put Greece at risk, and assisted hardliners who were advocating a Greek exit from the euro.

The retelling of history has provoked fury along with shock among certain groups, whereas the former minister has so far maintained a conspicuous quiet on the matter.