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Within his newly released personal account, named Ithaki, the former premier Tsipras pulls no punches as he reflects on that chaotic period of Greece's economic turmoil.

An Unconventional Choice

As per the ex-PM's version, Tsipras appointed the maverick economist Varoufakis to be his treasury head primarily because of his international reputation and Varoufakis's highly compelling skills when it came to communicator.

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

Clashing Priorities

Tsipras claims how his finance chief possessed a personal agenda which included advancing his books and testing out his own economic models on the nation instead of genuinely advocating the country's financial survival.

He explained that the negotiations to prevent bankruptcy were “not just a method to secure a better deal for Greece. They were an experiment, an historic chance to prove the truth of Varoufakis's theories.”

Critical Talks

During volatile discussions, the country found itself dangerously on the brink of exiting the single currency area.

At stake lay both Greece's future and the punishing austerity measures required in return for rescue loans from international creditors.

Unsuccessful Options

Attempts to find financing elsewhere, including a desperate plea to Russia to purchase Greek bonds, were rejected.

Helping the indebted country would be equivalent to throwing money into the garbage, Putin is reputed to have told his Greek counterpart in Moscow.

Referendum Followed by U-Turn

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

Although the vote was won resoundingly by voters who opposed the cuts, Tsipras had little option to reject its outcome and agree to a bailout package from foreign lenders which turned out to be even harsher.

Breaking Point

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

“He was the public image of the talks, the figure who attracted publicity, who graced the covers of magazines globally … he gave the impression he relished the spotlight.”

After Varoufakis outlined a backup strategy involving establishing a parallel currency as well as issuing vouchers to retirees, Tsipras said he realised it was game over and asked him: “Can you be serious?”

Lasting Criticism

In the memoir, Tsipras asserts how his former ally had proved himself “unsuitable for an agreement demanding complex and delicate handling.”

Tsipras further claimed that his confrontational approach made him more and more alone among peers, endangered the country, while assisted hawks who were advocating Grexit.

The account of events has provoked fury and stunned disbelief among certain groups, while the former minister has kept a deafening silence regarding these claims.