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Within his newly released autobiography, named Ithaki, the ex- premier Alexis Tsipras does not hold back while he revisits that chaotic period during Greece's debt drama.

An Unconventional Appointment

As per Tsipras's version, Tsipras selected that unorthodox economist Yanis Varoufakis to be his finance minister primarily due to the latter's global profile and Varoufakis's “extremely attractive” abilities as a speaker.

“In reality, he was, in reality, more of a star and less of an economic expert,” recalled the 51-year-old.

Conflicting Agendas

Tsipras claims that his finance chief possessed his own agenda which included promoting Varoufakis's publications as well as testing out his theories using the nation instead of genuinely advocating its financial survival.

He explained how those discussions to stave off insolvency became “not only a way to secure a better deal for Greece. They were an experiment, a monumental chance to prove the truth of Varoufakis's ideas.”

Critical Talks

Amid rollercoaster discussions, Greece came perilously on the brink of exiting the eurozone.

At stake was both Greece's destiny and the severe austerity policies demanded in return for financial aid by foreign lenders.

Unsuccessful Alternatives

Efforts to find financing elsewhere, including a desperate plea to the Kremlin to purchase Greek bonds, fell on stony ground.

Assisting Greece was tantamount to tossing cash into the garbage, Putin reportedly told his Greek counterpart in Moscow.

Public Vote Followed by U-Turn

That summer, those harsh bailout terms were put to a public vote, a move which plunged Europe into a further crisis of identity.

Even though the vote was carried decisively by those who opposed austerity, Tsipras had little option to ignore the result then agree to a rescue deal with creditors that proved to be more severe.

Final Straw

Tsipras claimed that he started questioning his finance minister relatively soon.

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

When the minister outlined a backup strategy involving creating a secondary currency and distributing coupons to retirees, Tsipras knew it was the end questioning Varoufakis: “Is this for real?”

Enduring Rebuke

Within the memoir, the author concludes that his former ally demonstrated himself to be “unsuitable for a deal that required complex and delicate handling.”

He further wrote how Varoufakis's confrontational approach made him more and more alone with colleagues, put Greece at risk, and assisted hardliners who were advocating Grexit.

This retelling of events has provoked anger and stunned disbelief among certain groups, while the former minister has kept a deafening silence regarding these claims.