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In a freshly published memoir, titled Ithaki, the ex- prime minister Tsipras pulls no punches as he examines the chaotic period during Greece's debt drama.

An Unconventional Appointment

As per Tsipras's account, Tsipras chose the maverick academic Varoufakis as the treasury head primarily due to the latter's international reputation and Varoufakis's “extremely attractive” skills as a communicator.

“He was, actually, more like a celebrity rather than an economist,” stated the 51-year-old.

Conflicting Agendas

Tsipras alleges how his finance chief had a personal agenda which included advancing his books and experimenting with his economic models using Greece rather than genuinely advocating its financial survival.

He explained how those negotiations to avoid insolvency became “not only a way to secure improved terms for Greece. They were an experiment, an historic chance to prove the truth of his ideas.”

Critical Negotiations

During volatile negotiations, Greece came dangerously close to leaving the single currency area.

On the line was both the country's destiny and the severe cutbacks required in return for bailout funds by foreign lenders.

Unsuccessful Options

Attempts to secure funds from other sources, such as a desperate plea to Russia to buy Greek government bonds, fell on stony ground.

Assisting Greece was tantamount to throwing money into the garbage, Putin reportedly informed Tsipras in Moscow.

Referendum Followed by Reversal

In July 2015, the harsh conditions were subjected to a public vote, an action that plunged Europe into a further existential crisis.

Although the vote was carried decisively by those against the cuts, Tsipras had little option but to ignore the result then agree to a bailout package with foreign lenders that turned out to be even harsher.

Final Straw

The ex-PM claimed that he started questioning his finance minister relatively soon.

“Varoufakis was the face of the talks, the figure who drew publicity, who graced the front pages of magazines globally … he gave the impression he relished his new role.”

After Varoufakis outlined a backup strategy that included creating a parallel currency as well as distributing coupons to pensioners, the leader said he realised that it was game over questioning Varoufakis: “Can you be serious?”

Enduring Rebuke

Within the memoir, the author concludes that Varoufakis had proved himself to be “unsuitable for an agreement demanding complex and delicate management.”

He also wrote how his aggressive style made him more and more alone with colleagues, endangered the country, while helped hawks who were advocating a Greek exit from the euro.

The retelling of events has been met with fury and stunned disbelief in some quarters, while Varoufakis has maintained a deafening silence on the matter.