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Within his freshly published autobiography, called Ithaki, the former premier Alexis Tsipras does not hold back as he reflects on the chaotic period during Greece's debt drama.

An Unconventional Choice

In Tsipras's account, he chose the maverick academic Varoufakis as the finance minister mainly due to his worldwide fame and his highly compelling abilities as a speaker.

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

Clashing Agendas

The former leader alleges how his finance chief possessed a personal motives that included advancing his books as well as experimenting with his economic models on the nation instead of genuinely fighting for the country's economic stability.

Tsipras wrote that those negotiations to avoid bankruptcy were “not only a way to secure improved terms for Greece. They became an experiment, an historic opportunity to prove the truth of Varoufakis's economic theories.”

High-Stakes Talks

Amid rollercoaster discussions, Greece came dangerously on the brink of exiting the eurozone.

On the line lay both Greece's future but also those punishing cutbacks required in exchange for bailout funds from foreign lenders.

Failed Alternatives

Attempts to secure funds from other sources, such as a desperate appeal to Russia to buy Greek bonds, fell on stony ground.

Assisting Greece was tantamount to tossing cash into the garbage, Putin reportedly told his Greek counterpart in Moscow.

Referendum and Reversal

That summer, those excoriating conditions were subjected to a public vote, a move which plunged Europe into a deeper existential crisis.

Although the vote was carried decisively by voters who opposed austerity, the prime minister had little option but to reject its outcome and agree to a bailout package from creditors that proved to be tougher.

Final Straw

The ex-PM revealed how he began to doubt Varoufakis quite early on.

“Varoufakis was the face of the talks, the man who attracted publicity, who appeared on the covers of magazines globally … he gave the impression he was enjoying his new role.”

When Varoufakis proposed a backup strategy involving establishing a parallel currency and distributing vouchers to retirees, the leader knew it was game over and asked him: “Is this for real?”

Enduring Rebuke

In the book, the author asserts that Varoufakis had proved himself to be “unfit for an agreement that required intricate and delicate handling.”

Tsipras also wrote that his aggressive approach made him more and more alone among peers, put Greece at risk, and assisted hardliners who were advocating Grexit.

This retelling of events has provoked fury along with stunned disbelief in some quarters, whereas Varoufakis has maintained a deafening silence on the matter.