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In a recently unveiled autobiography, named Ithaki, the ex- leader Tsipras spares no criticism while he revisits that turbulent era of Greece's economic turmoil.

A Controversial Choice

In Tsipras's account, he selected the unorthodox academic Yanis Varoufakis to be his treasury head mainly because of his global profile along with his “extremely attractive” abilities as a public orator.

“In reality, he was, truthfully, more like a celebrity rather than an economic expert,” stated the 51-year-old.

Conflicting Agendas

Tsipras claims how his finance chief possessed a personal motives which involved promoting his publications and testing out his economic models using Greece instead of truly fighting for the country's economic stability.

He explained that the talks to avoid insolvency became “not only a method of achieving a better deal for Greece. They became a test, an historic chance to prove the validity of his theories.”

High-Stakes Negotiations

During tense negotiations, Greece came dangerously close to leaving the single currency area.

At stake lay not only Greece's destiny but also the punishing austerity policies demanded in return for bailout funds from foreign lenders.

Failed Options

Attempts to find funds from other sources, such as an urgent appeal to the Kremlin to purchase Greek bonds, were rejected.

Helping Greece was tantamount to tossing cash into the garbage, Putin reportedly informed Tsipras during their meeting.

Referendum and U-Turn

That summer, the excoriating bailout terms were put to a public vote, an action that plunged Europe into a deeper existential crisis.

Even though the referendum was won resoundingly by voters against the cuts, Tsipras had little option but to ignore the result then negotiate a bailout package with foreign lenders which proved to be more severe.

Breaking Point

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

“He was the face of negotiation, the man who attracted media attention, who appeared on the front pages of magazines globally … he gave the impression he relished the spotlight.”

After the minister outlined a contingency plan involving establishing a parallel currency and issuing coupons to pensioners, Tsipras said he realised it was game over questioning him: “Is this for real?”

Enduring Rebuke

In the book, the author concludes how his former ally had proved himself to be “unsuitable for a deal demanding intricate and delicate management.”

Tsipras also claimed how Varoufakis's aggressive style left him increasingly isolated among peers, put Greece at risk, while assisted hardliners who were pushing for a Greek exit from the euro.

This account of history has provoked fury and stunned disbelief in some quarters, while the former minister has so far kept a conspicuous quiet on the matter.