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Within his freshly published memoir, called Ithaki, the ex- premier Tsipras pulls no punches as he reflects on the chaotic period of Greece's debt drama.

An Unconventional Appointment

As per Tsipras's account, Tsipras selected the unorthodox academic Yanis Varoufakis to be the treasury head largely because of his international reputation and his highly compelling skills when it came to communicator.

“In reality, he was, in reality, more of a celebrity and less of an economist,” recalled Tsipras.

Conflicting Agendas

Tsipras suggests how his finance chief possessed his own agenda that included advancing his books and testing out his theories on Greece instead of truly advocating its financial survival.

Tsipras wrote how those talks to stave off insolvency were “not just a method of achieving improved terms for Greece. They became an experiment, a monumental chance to prove the truth of his ideas.”

Critical Negotiations

Amid tense discussions, Greece found itself perilously on the brink of exiting the single currency area.

On the line was both Greece's future and those severe cutbacks demanded in exchange for financial aid by international creditors.

Unsuccessful Alternatives

Attempts to find funds from other sources, including a desperate plea to Russia to buy Greek bonds, went unanswered.

Helping the indebted country was equivalent to tossing cash into the garbage, the Russian leader is reputed to have informed Tsipras during their meeting.

Public Vote and U-Turn

That summer, those harsh conditions were put to a public vote, a move that plunged Europe into a further existential crisis.

Even though the vote was carried resoundingly by voters who opposed austerity, Tsipras had little option to reject its outcome and agree to a bailout package with creditors which turned out to be even harsher.

Breaking Point

The ex-PM claimed that he began to doubt his finance minister relatively soon.

“He was the face of negotiation, the figure who drew publicity, who appeared on the front pages of publications globally … it seemed he relished his new role.”

After the minister proposed a backup strategy involving establishing a secondary currency as well as issuing vouchers to retirees, the leader said he realised that it was the end and asked Varoufakis: “Is this for real?”

Enduring Criticism

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

He also claimed that his confrontational style made him increasingly isolated with colleagues, endangered the country, while helped hardliners that were pushing for Grexit.

This account of history has provoked fury along with shock among certain groups, while the former minister has maintained a conspicuous quiet on the matter.