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Within his recently unveiled personal account, named Ithaki, the former premier Alexis Tsipras pulls no punches as he reflects on that turbulent period during Greece's debt drama.

An Unconventional Choice

In the ex-PM's account, he selected that maverick academic Varoufakis as his finance minister primarily due to the latter's global profile and his “extremely attractive” abilities when it came to public orator.

“He was, truthfully, more of a celebrity and less of an economic expert,” stated the 51-year-old.

Conflicting Priorities

The former leader suggests that his finance chief possessed a personal agenda which included promoting Varoufakis's books as well as testing out his own economic models using Greece rather than truly fighting for its financial survival.

Tsipras noted that those discussions to avoid bankruptcy were “not just a way of achieving improved terms for Greece. They were a test, a monumental chance to demonstrate the validity of Varoufakis's ideas.”

Critical Talks

Amid tense negotiations, Greece came perilously on the brink of leaving the single currency area.

On the line was both Greece's destiny and those punishing austerity measures demanded in return for financial aid by foreign lenders.

Failed Alternatives

Efforts to find financing from other sources, including a desperate plea to Russia to buy Greek government bonds, went unanswered.

Helping the indebted country was equivalent to tossing cash into the garbage, Putin reportedly told Tsipras in Moscow.

Referendum and U-Turn

That summer, the excoriating bailout terms were subjected to a public vote, an action which threw the EU into a further crisis of identity.

Even though the vote was won decisively by voters against austerity, the prime minister had little option but to reject its outcome and agree to a bailout package with creditors that proved to be tougher.

Breaking Point

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

“Varoufakis was the face of the talks, the man who attracted media attention, who appeared on the front pages of magazines the world over … it seemed he was enjoying the spotlight.”

After Varoufakis proposed a contingency plan involving establishing a secondary currency as well as distributing vouchers to pensioners, Tsipras said he realised that it was game over and asked him: “Is this for real?”

Enduring Rebuke

In the memoir, the author asserts that Varoufakis demonstrated himself to be “unsuitable for a deal demanding complex and delicate handling.”

Tsipras also claimed that his aggressive approach made him increasingly isolated with colleagues, endangered the country, while assisted hawks that were advocating Grexit.

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