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Within his newly released autobiography, named Ithaki, the former leader Alexis Tsipras pulls no punches as he examines that chaotic period during Greece's debt drama.

A Controversial Appointment

In the ex-PM's version, Tsipras selected the unorthodox academic Yanis Varoufakis to be his treasury head mainly because of his global profile and Varoufakis's highly compelling abilities when it came to public orator.

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

Conflicting Agendas

Tsipras claims how his finance chief had his own motives which involved promoting his books as well as testing out his own theories using Greece rather than truly advocating its financial survival.

Tsipras noted that those talks to avoid insolvency were “not only a method of achieving a better deal for the country. They became an experiment, a monumental chance to demonstrate the validity of Varoufakis's theories.”

Critical Talks

Amid volatile discussions, Greece found itself perilously close to exiting the eurozone.

On the line was both Greece's destiny but also those severe cutbacks required in return for rescue loans from foreign lenders.

Failed Alternatives

Efforts to find financing elsewhere, such as a desperate plea to the Kremlin to buy Greek bonds, were rejected.

Assisting the indebted country would be tantamount to tossing cash in the trash-can, the Russian leader is reputed to have informed his Greek counterpart during their meeting.

Referendum Followed by U-Turn

In July 2015, the punitive conditions were put to a popular referendum, an action which threw the EU into a further existential crisis.

Although the referendum was won resoundingly by voters against the cuts, Tsipras was forced but to reject its outcome and agree to a bailout package from creditors that turned out to be more severe.

Final Straw

The ex-PM revealed how he started questioning his finance minister relatively soon.

“He was the face of negotiation, the figure who attracted publicity, who graced the front pages of magazines the world over … it seemed he was enjoying his new role.”

After Varoufakis outlined a contingency plan involving creating a parallel currency as well as distributing coupons to retirees, Tsipras said he realised that it was game over and asked him: “Is this for real?”

Enduring Criticism

In the book, the author concludes how Varoufakis demonstrated himself to be “unsuitable for an agreement that required intricate and delicate handling.”

He further wrote how his confrontational style made him increasingly isolated among peers, endangered the country, and assisted hardliners who were advocating Grexit.

The retelling of history has been met with anger and shock among certain groups, while Varoufakis has so far kept a deafening silence on the matter.