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Within his freshly published personal account, called Ithaki, the former prime minister Alexis Tsipras spares no criticism as he revisits that chaotic era of Greece's debt drama.

An Unconventional Appointment

As per Tsipras's version, Tsipras chose the maverick academic Yanis Varoufakis as the treasury head mainly due to the latter's worldwide fame along with his “extremely attractive” skills when it came to communicator.

“He was, in reality, more of a celebrity rather than an economic expert,” wrote the 51-year-old.

Clashing Agendas

Tsipras claims that his finance chief possessed his own motives that involved promoting Varoufakis's publications and experimenting with his economic models on the nation instead of genuinely fighting for its financial survival.

Tsipras wrote how the talks to stave off insolvency became “not only a method to secure a better deal for Greece. They were a test, an historic opportunity to demonstrate the truth of his theories.”

High-Stakes Negotiations

During volatile discussions, Greece came dangerously close to exiting the single currency area.

At stake lay both the country's destiny and those severe austerity policies required in return for bailout funds from foreign lenders.

Failed Options

Efforts to secure funds from other sources, such as a desperate plea to Russia to purchase Greek bonds, were rejected.

Assisting the indebted country would be tantamount to throwing money in the trash-can, the Russian leader reportedly told his Greek counterpart in Moscow.

Public Vote Followed by U-Turn

In July 2015, those punitive conditions were put to a public vote, an action that threw Europe into deeper crisis of identity.

Even though the vote was carried resoundingly by those against austerity, the prime minister was forced but to ignore the result then agree to a bailout package from foreign lenders that proved to be tougher.

Breaking Point

Tsipras revealed that he began to doubt Varoufakis quite early on.

“He was the face of the talks, the man who attracted publicity, who graced the front pages of publications the world over … it seemed he was enjoying his new role.”

After Varoufakis outlined a contingency plan involving establishing a parallel currency as well as issuing vouchers to pensioners, the leader said he realised it was the end and asked Varoufakis: “Is this for real?”

Lasting Rebuke

In the memoir, the author concludes how Varoufakis had proved himself to be “unsuitable for an agreement demanding complex and sensitive management.”

Tsipras further claimed that his confrontational approach made him more and more alone with colleagues, endangered the country, and helped hawks who were pushing for a Greek exit from the euro.

The account of history has provoked fury along with stunned disbelief among certain groups, while Varoufakis has maintained a conspicuous quiet on the matter.