In a recently unveiled memoir, named Ithaki, the former premier Tsipras does not hold back while he reflects on the turbulent era during Greece's financial crisis.
A Controversial Appointment
In the ex-PM's account, Tsipras selected that unorthodox economist Yanis Varoufakis as his treasury head primarily because of his worldwide fame and his highly compelling abilities when it came to public orator.
“He was, in reality, more of a personality and less of an economist,” stated Tsipras.
Clashing Agendas
The former leader alleges how his finance chief possessed a personal motives which involved advancing his books and testing out his own game theories on Greece instead of truly advocating its economic stability.
Tsipras explained that those talks to avoid insolvency were “not just a way of achieving improved terms for Greece. They became an experiment, an historic chance to prove the truth of Varoufakis's theories.”
High-Stakes Talks
Amid rollercoaster negotiations, the country found itself dangerously on the brink of exiting the eurozone.
At stake was both Greece's destiny and the punishing austerity measures required in exchange for financial aid from international creditors.
Unsuccessful Alternatives
Attempts to find funds elsewhere, such as an urgent plea to the Kremlin to buy Greek government bonds, were rejected.
Assisting Greece would be equivalent to throwing money into the garbage, Putin is reputed to have informed Tsipras in Moscow.
Public Vote Followed by Reversal
In July 2015, the harsh bailout terms were put to a popular referendum, an action which threw the EU into a deeper crisis of identity.
Even though the vote was won decisively by those against the cuts, the prime minister was forced but to ignore the result and negotiate a rescue deal from foreign lenders which proved to be more severe.
Final Straw
Tsipras claimed how he started questioning Varoufakis relatively soon.
“Varoufakis was the face of negotiation, the man who attracted publicity, who appeared on the covers of magazines the world over … it seemed he was enjoying the spotlight.”
When the minister proposed a contingency plan that included establishing a secondary currency as well as distributing coupons to retirees, Tsipras said he realised that it was the end questioning him: “Are you serious?”
Enduring Rebuke
Within the book, Tsipras concludes that his former ally demonstrated himself to be “unfit for a deal demanding complex and sensitive handling.”
He also wrote that Varoufakis's aggressive approach made him more and more alone with colleagues, endangered the country, while assisted hardliners who were pushing for Grexit.
The account of history has provoked anger and stunned disbelief among certain groups, while the former minister has so far kept a conspicuous quiet on the matter.