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Within his recently unveiled personal account, titled Ithaki, the former prime minister Tsipras does not hold back while he revisits that turbulent period of Greece's economic turmoil.

An Unconventional Appointment

As per the ex-PM's version, he chose that unorthodox academic Yanis Varoufakis as the finance minister mainly due to the latter's worldwide fame and his very persuasive abilities when it came to speaker.

“In reality, he was, actually, more like a star rather than an economist,” stated the 51-year-old.

Conflicting Priorities

The former leader alleges how Varoufakis possessed a personal agenda which included advancing Varoufakis's books as well as experimenting with his theories using the nation instead of truly advocating the country's economic stability.

He explained how those negotiations to stave off insolvency were “not only a way of achieving a better deal for the country. They were an experiment, a monumental chance to prove the truth of his theories.”

Critical Negotiations

During volatile negotiations, Greece came dangerously on the brink of exiting the single currency area.

At stake lay not only the country's destiny and the punishing austerity measures required in exchange for rescue loans from foreign lenders.

Failed Alternatives

Efforts to find funds 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, Putin is reputed to have informed his Greek counterpart during their meeting.

Public Vote Followed by U-Turn

That summer, the punitive conditions were put to a public vote, an action which threw the EU into a deeper existential crisis.

Although the referendum was won resoundingly by voters who opposed the cuts, the prime minister was forced to reject its outcome then negotiate a rescue deal with creditors that turned out to be tougher.

Breaking Point

The ex-PM revealed how he began to doubt his finance minister quite early on.

“Varoufakis was the public image of negotiation, the figure who drew publicity, who appeared on the front pages of publications the world over … he gave the impression he relished his new role.”

After the minister outlined a contingency plan involving creating a secondary currency as well as distributing coupons to pensioners, the leader knew it was game over and asked Varoufakis: “Are you serious?”

Enduring Rebuke

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

Tsipras further claimed how Varoufakis's aggressive approach made him increasingly isolated with colleagues, endangered the country, and helped hardliners that were pushing for a Greek exit from the euro.

This retelling of history has been met with anger and shock in some quarters, while the former minister has so far kept a deafening silence regarding these claims.