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Within his recently unveiled memoir, titled Ithaki, the ex- leader Tsipras pulls no punches as he revisits the chaotic era of Greece's debt drama.

An Unconventional Choice

In Tsipras's recollections, Tsipras appointed that unorthodox academic Varoufakis as the finance minister mainly because of his international reputation along with Varoufakis's “extremely attractive” abilities when it came to public orator.

“In reality, he was, truthfully, more like a personality and less of an economist,” stated Tsipras.

Clashing Agendas

The former leader alleges that his finance chief possessed a personal agenda which included promoting Varoufakis's publications as well as testing out his theories using the nation rather than genuinely fighting for the country's financial survival.

Tsipras wrote how those negotiations to avoid insolvency became “not only a method to secure improved terms for the country. They became a test, an historic opportunity to prove the truth of Varoufakis's ideas.”

High-Stakes Negotiations

Amid volatile discussions, the country came perilously close to exiting the single currency area.

On the line lay not only the country's future and the severe austerity measures required in return for financial aid by international creditors.

Failed Options

Attempts to find financing elsewhere, such as a desperate appeal to Russia to purchase Greek government bonds, went unanswered.

Helping Greece was tantamount to throwing money into the garbage, the Russian leader is reputed to have informed his Greek counterpart in Moscow.

Public Vote Followed by Reversal

That summer, those excoriating bailout terms were put to a popular referendum, a move which threw Europe into a further existential crisis.

Although the vote was won resoundingly by voters against austerity, Tsipras was forced to reject its outcome and agree to a bailout package from foreign lenders which proved to be more severe.

Breaking Point

Tsipras claimed that he started questioning Varoufakis quite early on.

“He was the public image of the talks, the figure who drew media attention, who graced the front pages of publications the world over … it seemed he relished the spotlight.”

After Varoufakis proposed a contingency plan that included creating a parallel currency and distributing coupons to retirees, the leader said he realised it was the end and asked Varoufakis: “Is this for real?”

Enduring Criticism

Within the book, Tsipras asserts that his former ally demonstrated himself “unfit for a deal demanding intricate and delicate management.”

Tsipras further wrote how his aggressive approach left him more and more alone among peers, endangered the country, while assisted hawks who were advocating a Greek exit from the euro.

This retelling of history has provoked fury and shock among certain groups, while the former minister has so far maintained a deafening silence regarding these claims.