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In a newly released autobiography, named Ithaki, the ex- premier Tsipras pulls no punches while he reflects on the turbulent period during Greece's debt drama.

An Unconventional Appointment

According to Tsipras's version, he chose that unorthodox academic Yanis Varoufakis as his treasury head largely because of the latter's worldwide fame along with Varoufakis's very persuasive skills as a public orator.

“He was, in reality, more of a star rather than an economic expert,” stated Tsipras.

Clashing Priorities

Tsipras alleges that his finance chief had his own agenda that involved promoting Varoufakis's publications as well as testing out his own economic models using Greece rather than genuinely fighting for the country's financial survival.

He explained how the talks to prevent insolvency became “not only a method of achieving a better deal for Greece. They were an experiment, a monumental opportunity to prove the validity of Varoufakis's economic theories.”

High-Stakes Negotiations

During tense negotiations, Greece came perilously on the brink of exiting the eurozone.

At stake lay not only Greece's destiny and those punishing austerity measures demanded in return for rescue loans from international creditors.

Unsuccessful Alternatives

Efforts to find funds from other sources, including a desperate appeal to the Kremlin to purchase Greek bonds, went unanswered.

Helping the indebted country would be equivalent to tossing cash in the trash-can, Putin is reputed to have told his Greek counterpart during their meeting.

Referendum Followed by Reversal

That summer, the harsh conditions were put to a public vote, an action that threw Europe into deeper crisis of identity.

Although the referendum was won resoundingly by voters who opposed the cuts, Tsipras had little option to reject its outcome and agree to a rescue deal from foreign lenders that turned out to be tougher.

Breaking Point

The ex-PM revealed how he began to doubt his finance minister relatively soon.

“Varoufakis was the face of the talks, the figure who attracted publicity, who appeared on the front pages of publications globally … it seemed he relished his new role.”

After the minister outlined a backup strategy involving establishing a parallel currency and distributing vouchers to pensioners, Tsipras said he realised that it was game over questioning Varoufakis: “Can you be serious?”

Enduring Rebuke

In the memoir, Tsipras concludes how Varoufakis had proved himself “unsuitable for a deal that required intricate and sensitive handling.”

He further wrote that his confrontational approach made him more and more alone among peers, put Greece at risk, and helped hardliners that were pushing for Grexit.

The retelling of events has been met with anger along with shock in some quarters, while the former minister has so far kept a conspicuous quiet regarding these claims.