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Within his freshly published memoir, called Ithaki, the former leader Tsipras spares no criticism as he revisits the turbulent period of Greece's economic turmoil.

An Unconventional Choice

In the ex-PM's recollections, he chose that unorthodox academic Varoufakis as the finance minister largely due to his worldwide fame and his very persuasive skills when it came to public orator.

“In reality, he was, in reality, more like a personality and less of an economic expert,” stated the 51-year-old.

Clashing Priorities

Tsipras claims how Varoufakis possessed his own agenda that involved promoting Varoufakis's books and testing out his theories using the nation instead of genuinely advocating its economic stability.

Tsipras wrote how the discussions to avoid bankruptcy were “not only a method of achieving improved terms for Greece. They were an experiment, an historic chance to demonstrate the validity of his economic theories.”

Critical Talks

During tense discussions, Greece came perilously on the brink of leaving the single currency area.

At stake was both Greece's destiny but also those harsh austerity measures demanded in exchange for rescue loans by foreign lenders.

Failed Alternatives

Efforts to secure funds from other sources, including a desperate plea to the Kremlin to purchase Greek government bonds, were rejected.

Assisting Greece would be equivalent to throwing money in the trash-can, the Russian leader reportedly told his Greek counterpart during their meeting.

Public Vote Followed by U-Turn

In July 2015, those excoriating bailout terms were put to a popular referendum, an action that plunged Europe into a deeper crisis of identity.

Even though the vote was won resoundingly by voters against the cuts, Tsipras had little option to reject its outcome and agree to a rescue deal from foreign lenders that proved to be more severe.

Breaking Point

The ex-PM claimed how he began to doubt Varoufakis relatively soon.

“Varoufakis was the face of the talks, the figure who drew publicity, who graced the covers of magazines globally … he gave the impression he relished the spotlight.”

When the minister outlined a contingency plan involving establishing a secondary currency as well as issuing coupons to pensioners, the leader knew that it was game over questioning Varoufakis: “Is this for real?”

Lasting Criticism

Within the memoir, Tsipras asserts how his former ally demonstrated himself to be “unfit for an agreement that required intricate and sensitive handling.”

Tsipras further claimed how his aggressive style made him increasingly isolated among peers, endangered the country, while helped hardliners who were advocating a Greek exit from the euro.

The retelling of events has provoked fury and shock in some quarters, whereas the former minister has maintained a deafening silence regarding these claims.