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Within his recently unveiled personal account, titled Ithaki, the ex- premier Tsipras pulls no punches as he revisits that turbulent era during Greece's debt drama.

A Controversial Appointment

As per the ex-PM's version, he selected the unorthodox economist Varoufakis to be the treasury head mainly due to the latter's global profile and Varoufakis's highly compelling abilities when it came to public orator.

“He was, actually, more like a celebrity and less of an economic expert,” stated Tsipras.

Clashing Agendas

Tsipras claims that his finance chief had a personal motives which involved advancing Varoufakis's books as well as experimenting with his own theories on Greece instead of genuinely advocating its financial survival.

Tsipras wrote that those discussions to stave off bankruptcy were “not only a method of achieving a better deal for Greece. They were an experiment, a monumental opportunity to demonstrate the validity of Varoufakis's economic theories.”

Critical Negotiations

Amid tense discussions, the country found itself dangerously close to exiting the single currency area.

At stake lay both the country's future and those harsh cutbacks required in exchange for bailout funds by international creditors.

Unsuccessful Options

Attempts to find financing from other sources, such as an urgent appeal to Russia to buy Greek government bonds, were rejected.

Helping the indebted country would be tantamount to throwing money into the garbage, Putin reportedly told Tsipras in Moscow.

Public Vote and U-Turn

That summer, the punitive bailout terms were subjected to a public vote, a move that plunged Europe into a deeper crisis of identity.

Even though the referendum was won decisively by those against the cuts, the prime minister was forced but to ignore the result then negotiate a rescue deal with foreign lenders which proved to be tougher.

Final Straw

The ex-PM claimed that he started questioning his finance minister quite early on.

“He was the public image of the talks, the figure who drew media attention, who graced the covers of publications globally … it seemed he relished his new role.”

When Varoufakis proposed a contingency plan involving establishing a parallel currency as well as distributing vouchers to retirees, Tsipras said he realised that it was game over questioning him: “Can you be serious?”

Enduring Rebuke

Within the memoir, the author asserts that his former ally had proved himself to be “unsuitable for an agreement that required complex and delicate handling.”

Tsipras further wrote that Varoufakis's aggressive style made him more and more alone among peers, endangered the country, while helped hawks that were advocating Grexit.

This retelling of history has been met with fury along with stunned disbelief among certain groups, whereas Varoufakis has so far kept a deafening silence regarding these claims.