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In a freshly published personal account, called Ithaki, the former leader Tsipras does not hold back while he examines that chaotic period during Greece's economic turmoil.

An Unconventional Choice

According to the ex-PM's version, Tsipras selected the maverick economist Varoufakis as the treasury head primarily due to his international reputation along with his very persuasive skills as a public orator.

“He was, truthfully, more like a personality rather than an economic expert,” stated the 51-year-old.

Clashing Priorities

The former leader claims that Varoufakis possessed a personal motives which involved advancing Varoufakis's books and testing out his own theories using the nation instead of truly fighting for the country's economic stability.

Tsipras explained that the talks to avoid bankruptcy became “not only a way to secure a better deal for the country. They became a test, a monumental chance to prove the validity of Varoufakis's ideas.”

Critical Negotiations

During rollercoaster discussions, the country found itself dangerously close to leaving the eurozone.

On the line was not only the country's destiny and those harsh austerity policies demanded in return for bailout funds by foreign lenders.

Failed Options

Efforts to secure financing from other sources, including a desperate appeal to the Kremlin to buy Greek government bonds, fell on stony ground.

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

Public Vote Followed by U-Turn

In July 2015, those harsh conditions were put to a popular referendum, a move that plunged the EU into a deeper crisis of identity.

Even though the referendum was won decisively by voters against the cuts, Tsipras was forced but to reject its outcome then agree to a bailout package with foreign lenders that proved to be more severe.

Final Straw

The ex-PM revealed that he began to doubt Varoufakis quite early on.

“Varoufakis was the face of the talks, the figure who attracted publicity, who graced the front pages of magazines globally … he gave the impression he was enjoying the spotlight.”

When the minister proposed a backup strategy that included establishing a secondary currency and distributing vouchers to pensioners, Tsipras knew it was game over and asked Varoufakis: “Is this for real?”

Lasting Criticism

Within the memoir, the author concludes how Varoufakis demonstrated himself to be “unsuitable for a deal that required intricate and sensitive management.”

He further wrote how Varoufakis's aggressive approach left him more and more alone among peers, put Greece at risk, while assisted hardliners who were advocating Grexit.

This retelling of history has provoked fury and shock in some quarters, whereas the former minister has so far kept a conspicuous quiet on the matter.