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In a recently unveiled personal account, called Ithaki, the former leader Tsipras does not hold back as he reflects on that chaotic era during Greece's financial crisis.

An Unconventional Choice

According to the ex-PM's version, he appointed the unorthodox economist Yanis Varoufakis to be his treasury head mainly because of his global profile along with his very persuasive skills as a public orator.

“In reality, he was, truthfully, more like a personality rather than an economist,” recalled Tsipras.

Conflicting Agendas

The former leader claims that his finance chief had his own motives that included promoting his publications as well as experimenting with his game theories using the nation rather than truly fighting for its economic stability.

He wrote that those talks to prevent insolvency became “not just a way to secure improved terms for the country. They became an experiment, an historic opportunity to prove the validity of Varoufakis's theories.”

High-Stakes Negotiations

During volatile discussions, Greece came dangerously on the brink of leaving the single currency area.

At stake was both the country's destiny and the punishing austerity policies required in return for bailout funds by foreign lenders.

Failed Alternatives

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

Assisting Greece was equivalent to tossing cash in the trash-can, Putin is reputed to have told Tsipras in Moscow.

Public Vote and Reversal

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

Although the vote was carried resoundingly by those against austerity, the prime minister had little option but to ignore the result then agree to a bailout package with creditors which turned out to be more severe.

Breaking Point

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

“He was the face of the talks, the figure who drew publicity, who appeared on the covers of magazines the world over … it seemed he was enjoying the spotlight.”

When the minister proposed a backup strategy involving creating a parallel currency and distributing coupons to pensioners, Tsipras knew that it was game over questioning him: “Are you serious?”

Lasting Rebuke

In the book, the author asserts how his former ally demonstrated himself “unsuitable for a deal that required intricate and delicate management.”

He further claimed how his confrontational approach made him increasingly isolated with colleagues, put Greece at risk, while helped hardliners that were advocating a Greek exit from the euro.

This account of history has provoked fury along with stunned disbelief among certain groups, whereas the former minister has so far kept a deafening silence on the matter.