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Within his newly released personal account, titled Ithaki, the ex- premier Tsipras does not hold back as he reflects on that chaotic period of Greece's debt drama.

An Unconventional Choice

According to the ex-PM's version, Tsipras chose the maverick economist Yanis Varoufakis to be his finance minister mainly because of his international reputation along with his “extremely attractive” skills as a speaker.

“He was, truthfully, more of a personality rather than an economist,” wrote Tsipras.

Conflicting Agendas

Tsipras claims that Varoufakis had his own motives which involved advancing Varoufakis's books and experimenting with his economic models on Greece instead of genuinely advocating its financial survival.

Tsipras wrote how the talks to stave off insolvency became “not just a way to secure improved terms for Greece. They became an experiment, an historic chance to demonstrate the validity of his ideas.”

Critical Talks

During volatile negotiations, Greece found itself dangerously on the brink of exiting the single currency area.

At stake lay not only the country's future and the severe austerity policies required in exchange for financial aid by foreign lenders.

Unsuccessful Options

Attempts to secure financing from other sources, including a desperate plea to Russia to purchase Greek bonds, fell on stony ground.

Helping the indebted country would be equivalent to throwing money in the trash-can, the Russian leader is reputed to have told his Greek counterpart during their meeting.

Public Vote Followed by Reversal

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

Although the vote was won resoundingly by voters against the cuts, the prime minister was forced to reject its outcome then agree to a rescue deal with creditors that turned out to be more severe.

Final Straw

The ex-PM claimed how he began to doubt Varoufakis quite early on.

“He was the public image of the talks, the figure who drew publicity, who graced the covers of magazines the world over … it seemed he relished his new role.”

When the minister proposed a contingency plan involving establishing a secondary currency and distributing vouchers to retirees, Tsipras said he realised it was game over questioning Varoufakis: “Can you be serious?”

Lasting Criticism

Within the book, the author concludes how his former ally demonstrated himself “unfit for an agreement that required complex and delicate handling.”

Tsipras also wrote how his aggressive approach left him more and more alone among peers, endangered the country, while helped hawks who were pushing for a Greek exit from the euro.

This account of events has been met with fury and shock among certain groups, whereas the former minister has so far kept a deafening silence on the matter.