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Within his recently unveiled memoir, named Ithaki, the ex- prime minister Tsipras does not hold back while he examines the turbulent era during Greece's debt drama.

A Controversial Choice

As per the ex-PM's version, Tsipras selected the maverick academic Yanis Varoufakis to be his finance minister primarily because of the latter's international reputation along with his “extremely attractive” skills as a speaker.

“He was, actually, more like a personality and less of an economic expert,” recalled Tsipras.

Clashing Priorities

The former leader claims that his finance chief possessed a personal motives that involved promoting his books as well as experimenting with his own economic models on the nation rather than truly advocating its economic stability.

Tsipras explained how those talks to prevent insolvency were “not only a way to secure improved terms for Greece. They became a test, an historic opportunity to demonstrate the validity of Varoufakis's economic theories.”

Critical Talks

During tense discussions, the country found itself dangerously on the brink of exiting the single currency area.

On the line was both the country's destiny but also those severe cutbacks demanded in exchange for rescue loans by foreign lenders.

Unsuccessful Options

Attempts to secure financing elsewhere, including a desperate plea to Russia to buy Greek bonds, fell on stony ground.

Helping the indebted country was equivalent to tossing cash in the trash-can, the Russian leader is reputed to have informed his Greek counterpart in Moscow.

Public Vote Followed by U-Turn

That summer, the punitive conditions were put to a public vote, an action that plunged Europe into a further crisis of identity.

Although the vote was won decisively by voters against the cuts, the prime minister was forced but to ignore the result and negotiate a rescue deal from foreign lenders which proved to be tougher.

Breaking Point

The ex-PM revealed that he started questioning Varoufakis quite early on.

“Varoufakis was the public image of negotiation, the figure who drew media attention, who graced the covers of publications globally … he gave the impression he relished his new role.”

After Varoufakis outlined a backup strategy that included establishing a secondary currency and distributing vouchers to retirees, Tsipras said he realised that it was the end questioning Varoufakis: “Is this for real?”

Lasting Rebuke

In the memoir, the author asserts that his former ally had proved himself to be “unfit for an agreement demanding complex and delicate handling.”

Tsipras further claimed that his confrontational approach left him more and more alone among peers, put Greece at risk, while helped hardliners that were pushing for Grexit.

This account of history has been met with fury along with stunned disbelief in some quarters, while Varoufakis has maintained a deafening silence regarding these claims.