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Within his freshly published personal account, named Ithaki, the ex- premier Tsipras does not hold back while he examines the chaotic period of Greece's debt drama.

A Controversial Choice

According to Tsipras's recollections, he selected the maverick economist Yanis Varoufakis to be his treasury head mainly due to the latter's worldwide fame along with his very persuasive skills when it came to public orator.

“In reality, he was, actually, more of a celebrity and less of an economist,” stated the 51-year-old.

Conflicting Priorities

Tsipras suggests that his finance chief possessed his own motives which included advancing Varoufakis's books as well as experimenting with his economic models on the nation instead of genuinely advocating the country's financial survival.

He explained that those discussions to prevent insolvency were “not only a method of achieving improved terms for Greece. They became an experiment, an historic opportunity to demonstrate the truth of Varoufakis's economic theories.”

Critical Talks

During tense negotiations, Greece found itself dangerously close to exiting the single currency area.

At stake lay not only the country's future and those severe austerity policies demanded in return for bailout funds by foreign lenders.

Failed Options

Efforts to find funds from other sources, including an urgent plea to the Kremlin to buy Greek bonds, were rejected.

Assisting the indebted country would be equivalent to tossing cash into the garbage, Putin is reputed to have told his Greek counterpart in Moscow.

Public Vote and U-Turn

In July 2015, the harsh conditions were subjected to a public vote, a move that plunged the EU into deeper existential crisis.

Even though the vote was won decisively by voters against the cuts, Tsipras was forced but to reject its outcome then agree to a rescue deal from creditors that turned out to be even harsher.

Breaking Point

Tsipras claimed how he began to doubt his finance minister relatively soon.

“Varoufakis was the face of the talks, the man who attracted publicity, who graced the front pages of magazines the world over … he gave the impression he relished his new role.”

When Varoufakis outlined a backup strategy involving establishing a secondary currency and issuing vouchers to retirees, the leader said he realised that it was the end and asked him: “Can you be serious?”

Enduring Rebuke

In the book, Tsipras asserts how Varoufakis demonstrated himself “unfit for a deal that required intricate and delicate handling.”

Tsipras further wrote that Varoufakis's confrontational style left him more and more alone among peers, endangered the country, while helped hawks who were pushing for Grexit.

This account of history has provoked anger and shock in some quarters, while Varoufakis has kept a conspicuous quiet on the matter.