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In a recently unveiled autobiography, called Ithaki, the former leader Tsipras pulls no punches while he examines the chaotic era during Greece's debt drama.

An Unconventional Choice

In Tsipras's version, he selected the unorthodox academic Varoufakis as his treasury head largely because of his international reputation along with Varoufakis's “extremely attractive” abilities when it came to communicator.

“In reality, he was, in reality, more like a celebrity rather than an economic expert,” stated Tsipras.

Clashing Priorities

The former leader alleges how Varoufakis had a personal motives that involved advancing his publications and testing out his theories on Greece rather than genuinely fighting for the country's financial survival.

Tsipras explained that those discussions to stave off bankruptcy were “not only a way to secure a better deal for Greece. They became an experiment, a monumental chance to demonstrate the validity of Varoufakis's economic theories.”

Critical Talks

During rollercoaster negotiations, Greece found itself dangerously on the brink of leaving the eurozone.

At stake was not only the country's future but also those severe austerity measures demanded in exchange for bailout funds by international creditors.

Unsuccessful Options

Attempts to secure funds from other sources, including a desperate appeal to the Kremlin to buy Greek government bonds, were rejected.

Helping Greece was tantamount to throwing money in the trash-can, the Russian leader is reputed to have told Tsipras during their meeting.

Referendum and Reversal

In July 2015, those punitive bailout terms were put to a public vote, a move which plunged the EU into a deeper existential crisis.

Even though the vote was carried resoundingly by those against the cuts, the prime minister had little option to ignore the result and agree to a rescue deal with creditors that proved to be even harsher.

Breaking Point

Tsipras revealed that he began to doubt his finance minister relatively soon.

“Varoufakis was the public image of the talks, the man who drew media attention, who appeared on the covers of magazines globally … it seemed he relished his new role.”

When the minister proposed a contingency plan that included establishing a parallel currency and distributing coupons to retirees, Tsipras said he realised it was game over and asked Varoufakis: “Can you be serious?”

Lasting Criticism

Within the memoir, Tsipras concludes that his former ally demonstrated himself “unfit for an agreement that required complex and delicate management.”

Tsipras further claimed how Varoufakis's confrontational style left him increasingly isolated with colleagues, endangered the country, while assisted hawks that were advocating Grexit.

The retelling of events has been met with fury along with shock in some quarters, while the former minister has kept a deafening silence regarding these claims.