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In a freshly published autobiography, called Ithaki, the former prime minister Tsipras does not hold back while he examines that chaotic era of Greece's debt drama.

A Controversial Appointment

According to Tsipras's version, he appointed that unorthodox academic Varoufakis as the treasury head primarily due to the latter's international reputation along with his highly compelling skills when it came to communicator.

“He was, truthfully, more of a star rather than an economic expert,” wrote the 51-year-old.

Conflicting Agendas

Tsipras suggests how his finance chief had his own motives that included advancing Varoufakis's publications and testing out his game theories on the nation instead of genuinely fighting for its economic stability.

Tsipras wrote how those talks to avoid insolvency became “not only a method of achieving a better deal for the country. They became an experiment, an historic opportunity to prove the truth of Varoufakis's ideas.”

High-Stakes Negotiations

Amid volatile discussions, Greece found itself perilously close to exiting the single currency area.

At stake lay both the country's future but also those punishing austerity measures demanded in exchange for financial aid from foreign lenders.

Failed Alternatives

Attempts to find financing elsewhere, including an urgent plea to the Kremlin to buy Greek government bonds, went unanswered.

Helping the indebted country was equivalent to throwing money into the garbage, the Russian leader reportedly informed Tsipras in Moscow.

Referendum and U-Turn

In July 2015, those harsh conditions were put to a popular referendum, a move that threw the EU into a deeper crisis of identity.

Although the vote was carried resoundingly by voters against the cuts, Tsipras was forced to ignore the result and negotiate a rescue deal from foreign lenders which turned out to be more severe.

Final Straw

Tsipras claimed that he began to doubt Varoufakis relatively soon.

“Varoufakis was the public image of the talks, the figure who attracted media attention, who appeared on the covers of publications the world over … it seemed he relished the spotlight.”

After the minister outlined a contingency plan involving establishing a secondary currency and distributing coupons to retirees, Tsipras knew that it was the end and asked Varoufakis: “Can you be serious?”

Lasting Criticism

In the memoir, Tsipras concludes that his former ally had proved himself “unsuitable for a deal demanding intricate and sensitive management.”

He also wrote how his confrontational 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 been met with anger along with shock among certain groups, whereas the former minister has maintained a deafening silence on the matter.