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Within his recently unveiled autobiography, called Ithaki, the former prime minister Alexis Tsipras does not hold back while he reflects on that turbulent period during Greece's economic turmoil.

An Unconventional Appointment

According to Tsipras's account, Tsipras selected the maverick economist Varoufakis as the finance minister mainly due to the latter's international reputation along with Varoufakis's very persuasive skills as a communicator.

“In reality, he was, actually, more of a star and less of an economic expert,” recalled the 51-year-old.

Clashing Agendas

Tsipras claims that his finance chief had a personal motives which involved promoting his publications and testing out his own theories on Greece rather than truly advocating the country's financial survival.

He wrote how the negotiations to prevent insolvency became “not just a method to secure improved terms for Greece. They were a test, a monumental chance to prove the validity of Varoufakis's economic theories.”

High-Stakes Negotiations

Amid tense discussions, the country found itself dangerously on the brink of exiting the eurozone.

At stake was not only Greece's destiny and the harsh austerity policies demanded in return for rescue loans from international creditors.

Unsuccessful Alternatives

Efforts to secure funds from other sources, including an urgent appeal to the Kremlin to purchase Greek bonds, fell on stony ground.

Assisting Greece was tantamount to throwing money in the trash-can, the Russian leader reportedly informed Tsipras in Moscow.

Public Vote Followed by U-Turn

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

Although 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 creditors that proved to be tougher.

Breaking Point

Tsipras claimed how he began to doubt his finance minister quite early on.

“Varoufakis was the face of negotiation, the man who drew publicity, who graced the front pages of publications globally … it seemed he was enjoying the spotlight.”

When the minister outlined a backup strategy that included creating a secondary currency and distributing vouchers to retirees, the leader knew that it was the end and asked him: “Are you serious?”

Enduring Rebuke

In the book, the author concludes that his former ally had proved himself to be “unfit for an agreement demanding complex and sensitive management.”

He also claimed how his aggressive style made him increasingly isolated among peers, endangered the country, while helped hawks who were pushing for Grexit.

This retelling of history has provoked anger and shock in some quarters, whereas the former minister has so far maintained a deafening silence regarding these claims.