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In a recently unveiled personal account, called Ithaki, the ex- prime minister Alexis Tsipras spares no criticism as he examines that chaotic era during Greece's economic turmoil.

A Controversial Choice

According to Tsipras's recollections, Tsipras chose that maverick economist Yanis Varoufakis as the treasury head mainly because of the latter's global profile along with Varoufakis's highly compelling skills when it came to communicator.

“He was, in reality, more of a personality and less of an economist,” stated Tsipras.

Conflicting Agendas

The former leader alleges how his finance chief had a personal motives that included promoting his publications as well as experimenting with his own game theories using the nation rather than truly fighting for the country's financial survival.

Tsipras explained that those talks to prevent bankruptcy were “not only a way of achieving a better deal for Greece. They were an experiment, a monumental opportunity to prove the validity of his theories.”

Critical Negotiations

Amid tense discussions, the country came dangerously on the brink of leaving the single currency area.

At stake lay both the country's future but also those punishing austerity measures demanded in return for bailout funds from international creditors.

Unsuccessful Alternatives

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

Assisting Greece was equivalent to throwing money in the trash-can, the Russian leader is reputed to have informed Tsipras in Moscow.

Referendum and U-Turn

In July 2015, those excoriating bailout terms were put to a public vote, a move which threw the EU into further crisis of identity.

Even though the referendum was carried decisively by voters against austerity, Tsipras had little option to reject its outcome and agree to a bailout package from creditors which turned out to be tougher.

Breaking Point

Tsipras claimed how he started questioning Varoufakis relatively soon.

“He was the public image of negotiation, the man who attracted media attention, who appeared on the covers of publications the world over … it seemed he relished the spotlight.”

After Varoufakis proposed a backup strategy involving creating a secondary currency and issuing coupons to pensioners, the leader knew that it was game over and asked Varoufakis: “Are you serious?”

Enduring Rebuke

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

He also wrote how his aggressive approach left him more and more alone with colleagues, put Greece at risk, while assisted hawks who were pushing for a Greek exit from the euro.

The retelling of history has provoked anger and shock in some quarters, whereas the former minister has so far maintained a deafening silence regarding these claims.