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Within his recently unveiled personal account, called Ithaki, the former prime minister Alexis Tsipras pulls no punches while he examines the chaotic period during Greece's debt drama.

An Unconventional Choice

According to Tsipras's version, Tsipras appointed that unorthodox academic Yanis Varoufakis to be his finance minister mainly due to his worldwide fame along with Varoufakis's highly compelling skills as a speaker.

“In reality, he was, truthfully, more of a celebrity rather than an economic expert,” recalled Tsipras.

Clashing Priorities

Tsipras alleges that his finance chief had a personal agenda that involved advancing Varoufakis's publications as well as testing out his own game theories on Greece rather than truly fighting for its economic stability.

Tsipras wrote how the talks to avoid bankruptcy were “not only a way of achieving a better deal for the country. They became a test, an historic opportunity to demonstrate the validity of Varoufakis's theories.”

High-Stakes Talks

During rollercoaster negotiations, Greece came perilously on the brink of leaving the single currency area.

At stake lay both Greece's future and the severe austerity measures required in return for bailout funds from international creditors.

Failed Alternatives

Efforts to secure funds from other sources, such as a desperate plea to Russia to purchase Greek bonds, went unanswered.

Assisting Greece would be tantamount to throwing money in the trash-can, the Russian leader is reputed to have informed Tsipras during their meeting.

Public Vote and U-Turn

In July 2015, those punitive conditions were subjected to a public vote, a move which threw Europe into a further crisis of identity.

Even though the vote was carried resoundingly by those who opposed austerity, Tsipras was forced to ignore the result then negotiate a bailout package from foreign lenders which proved to be even harsher.

Breaking Point

Tsipras claimed how he started questioning his finance minister relatively soon.

“Varoufakis was the public image of negotiation, the man who attracted publicity, who graced the covers of magazines globally … it seemed he relished the spotlight.”

When Varoufakis outlined a backup strategy that included creating a secondary currency as well as issuing coupons to retirees, Tsipras said he realised that it was game over questioning him: “Is this for real?”

Lasting Rebuke

In the memoir, Tsipras concludes that his former ally demonstrated himself “unfit for an agreement demanding complex and sensitive handling.”

Tsipras also wrote how his aggressive approach made him more and more alone with colleagues, endangered the country, while assisted hardliners that were advocating a Greek exit from the euro.

This account of history has been met with fury and shock among certain groups, while the former minister has so far maintained a conspicuous quiet on the matter.