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In a freshly published personal account, titled Ithaki, the ex- prime minister Alexis Tsipras does not hold back while he examines the chaotic period of Greece's debt drama.

An Unconventional Choice

In Tsipras's version, he appointed that maverick economist Varoufakis to be his finance minister primarily due to his global profile and his highly compelling skills as a public orator.

“In reality, he was, truthfully, more of a personality rather than an economic expert,” wrote the 51-year-old.

Clashing Priorities

Tsipras claims that Varoufakis possessed his own motives which involved advancing his publications and experimenting with his own theories on the nation instead of truly advocating its economic stability.

He wrote how the negotiations to stave off insolvency became “not just a method of achieving improved terms for the country. They became an experiment, an historic opportunity to demonstrate the truth of Varoufakis's ideas.”

Critical Talks

During rollercoaster discussions, the country found itself perilously on the brink of leaving the single currency area.

On the line was not only Greece's destiny and the punishing austerity policies demanded in return for financial aid from foreign lenders.

Unsuccessful Alternatives

Attempts to find financing elsewhere, including a desperate appeal to the Kremlin to purchase Greek government bonds, fell on stony ground.

Helping Greece was tantamount to tossing cash in the trash-can, the Russian leader reportedly informed Tsipras during their meeting.

Referendum and Reversal

In July 2015, the punitive bailout terms were subjected to a public vote, a move that threw the EU into deeper existential crisis.

Even though the vote was carried decisively by voters who opposed the cuts, the prime minister was forced but to reject its outcome and agree to a rescue deal with creditors which turned out to be even harsher.

Final Straw

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

“Varoufakis was the face of negotiation, the figure who drew media attention, who graced the covers of magazines globally … it seemed he was enjoying his new role.”

After the minister outlined a contingency plan involving creating a secondary currency as well as distributing coupons to pensioners, the leader knew it was the end and asked Varoufakis: “Is this for real?”

Enduring Rebuke

In the book, the author concludes that his former ally demonstrated himself to be “unsuitable for a deal that required complex and delicate management.”

Tsipras also wrote how his confrontational style made him more and more alone among peers, endangered the country, and helped hardliners that were advocating Grexit.

This account of history has provoked fury along with stunned disbelief in some quarters, whereas the former minister has kept a deafening silence on the matter.