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Within his freshly published personal account, called Ithaki, the ex- leader Tsipras spares no criticism while he revisits that chaotic period of Greece's debt drama.

An Unconventional Choice

As per the ex-PM's account, Tsipras appointed the unorthodox academic Yanis Varoufakis as the finance minister largely due to his global profile along with his very persuasive abilities when it came to communicator.

“In reality, he was, truthfully, more of a personality rather than an economist,” recalled the 51-year-old.

Clashing Agendas

The former leader alleges how his finance chief possessed a personal agenda which involved advancing his publications as well as testing out his own theories using Greece rather than genuinely advocating the country's economic stability.

He explained that those negotiations to avoid insolvency were “not only a method to secure improved terms for Greece. They became a test, a monumental chance to prove the truth of his theories.”

Critical Talks

During tense negotiations, the country found itself perilously on the brink of exiting the single currency area.

At stake lay both Greece's destiny and those punishing cutbacks demanded in exchange for rescue loans from foreign lenders.

Unsuccessful Alternatives

Efforts to find funds from other sources, such as an urgent plea to Russia to buy Greek bonds, fell on stony ground.

Helping Greece was equivalent to tossing cash in the trash-can, Putin reportedly told his Greek counterpart in Moscow.

Referendum Followed by Reversal

In July 2015, the punitive bailout terms were subjected to a popular referendum, a move that plunged Europe into a further existential crisis.

Even though the referendum was carried decisively by those who opposed austerity, the prime minister was forced to ignore the result and negotiate a bailout package with foreign lenders that proved to be more severe.

Final Straw

Tsipras revealed how he began to doubt Varoufakis relatively soon.

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

After Varoufakis proposed a contingency plan that included establishing a secondary currency and issuing coupons to retirees, the leader knew that it was game over questioning Varoufakis: “Are you serious?”

Enduring Criticism

In the book, the author concludes that his former ally demonstrated himself “unsuitable for an agreement demanding complex and delicate management.”

He further claimed how Varoufakis's confrontational approach made him more and more alone among peers, endangered the country, while helped hardliners who were pushing for a Greek exit from the euro.

This retelling of history has been met with fury along with stunned disbelief in some quarters, whereas the former minister has so far maintained a conspicuous quiet regarding these claims.