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In a newly released personal account, called Ithaki, the former prime minister Tsipras spares no criticism as he examines that chaotic era during Greece's financial crisis.

A Controversial Appointment

In Tsipras's version, he chose that maverick academic Varoufakis to be his finance minister primarily because of his worldwide fame along with Varoufakis's very persuasive skills when it came to speaker.

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

Clashing Priorities

The former leader claims how his finance chief possessed his own motives which involved promoting Varoufakis's books and testing out his economic models using the nation rather than genuinely fighting for its financial survival.

He noted that the discussions to prevent insolvency were “not only a way of achieving a better deal for the country. They became a test, an historic chance to demonstrate the truth of his theories.”

High-Stakes Negotiations

During rollercoaster negotiations, Greece found itself dangerously close to exiting the single currency area.

At stake was not only the country's destiny but also those severe austerity measures required in return for bailout funds by international creditors.

Failed Options

Efforts to find financing from other sources, including an urgent plea to the Kremlin to buy Greek bonds, were rejected.

Assisting the indebted country was equivalent to throwing money into the garbage, Putin is reputed to have told his Greek counterpart during their meeting.

Public Vote Followed by U-Turn

That summer, those punitive bailout terms were put to a popular referendum, an action which plunged Europe into a deeper existential crisis.

Although the referendum was won decisively by those against austerity, Tsipras was forced but to ignore the result then agree to a rescue deal from foreign lenders that proved to be tougher.

Breaking Point

Tsipras claimed that he started questioning his finance minister quite early on.

“He was the public image of negotiation, the man who drew media attention, who appeared on the front pages of publications globally … it seemed he was enjoying the spotlight.”

After Varoufakis proposed a contingency plan that included creating a secondary currency and distributing vouchers to pensioners, the leader knew that it was game over questioning Varoufakis: “Are you serious?”

Lasting Rebuke

In the book, Tsipras asserts that his former ally demonstrated himself to be “unsuitable for a deal that required complex and sensitive management.”

Tsipras also claimed that his aggressive approach left him more and more alone with colleagues, put Greece at risk, and assisted hawks who were advocating a Greek exit from the euro.

The account of history has been met with anger and stunned disbelief in some quarters, whereas the former minister has kept a deafening silence regarding these claims.