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In a freshly published personal account, called Ithaki, the former leader Alexis Tsipras pulls no punches as he revisits that turbulent period of Greece's debt drama.

A Controversial Choice

As per the ex-PM's recollections, he appointed the maverick economist Yanis Varoufakis to be the treasury head mainly because of his worldwide fame and his highly compelling skills as a communicator.

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

Clashing Priorities

Tsipras alleges how his finance chief possessed a personal agenda that involved promoting Varoufakis's books and testing out his theories on Greece instead of genuinely fighting for its financial survival.

He wrote how those discussions to stave off insolvency became “not only a way of achieving improved terms for Greece. They became a test, an historic opportunity to demonstrate the validity of Varoufakis's economic theories.”

Critical Negotiations

During tense negotiations, Greece found itself perilously on the brink of exiting the single currency area.

On the line was both Greece's destiny but also the punishing austerity policies demanded in return for financial aid from foreign lenders.

Failed Options

Efforts to find funds from other sources, including an urgent appeal to the Kremlin to buy Greek government bonds, went unanswered.

Helping the indebted country would be tantamount to throwing money into the garbage, the Russian leader reportedly informed Tsipras in Moscow.

Referendum Followed by U-Turn

In July 2015, the excoriating conditions were put to a popular referendum, a move which plunged the EU into further crisis of identity.

Even though the vote was won decisively by voters against austerity, the prime minister was forced but to reject its outcome and agree to a rescue deal with creditors that proved to be tougher.

Breaking Point

The ex-PM revealed that he began to doubt Varoufakis relatively soon.

“Varoufakis was the face of negotiation, the figure who drew media attention, who appeared on the front pages of publications globally … it seemed he relished his new role.”

After Varoufakis proposed a contingency plan involving creating a parallel currency and issuing coupons to retirees, Tsipras knew it was the end questioning Varoufakis: “Is this for real?”

Lasting Criticism

In the book, Tsipras asserts how Varoufakis had proved himself “unsuitable for a deal demanding complex and delicate handling.”

Tsipras further claimed how his confrontational style made him more and more alone with colleagues, endangered the country, while assisted hawks who were advocating a Greek exit from the euro.

The retelling of events has provoked anger along with shock in some quarters, whereas the former minister has kept a conspicuous quiet on the matter.