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Within his recently unveiled personal account, titled Ithaki, the ex- leader Tsipras pulls no punches while he examines the chaotic period of Greece's financial crisis.

A Controversial Appointment

According to Tsipras's account, he chose the maverick academic Yanis Varoufakis as the finance minister primarily due to his global profile and his highly compelling abilities as a communicator.

“He was, truthfully, more like a personality rather than an economic expert,” stated Tsipras.

Conflicting Priorities

The former leader claims that his finance chief had his own agenda which involved promoting his books and testing out his own theories on Greece rather than genuinely fighting for the country's economic stability.

Tsipras wrote how the negotiations to stave off bankruptcy became “not only a way to secure improved terms for the country. They became an experiment, a monumental chance to prove the validity of Varoufakis's ideas.”

Critical Negotiations

Amid tense negotiations, the country came dangerously close to leaving the single currency area.

On the line was both Greece's future but also the punishing austerity measures demanded in return for rescue loans by foreign lenders.

Failed Options

Attempts to find funds from other sources, such as an urgent plea to Russia to buy Greek bonds, fell on stony ground.

Helping Greece would be tantamount to tossing cash in the trash-can, Putin is reputed to have told Tsipras during their meeting.

Referendum and U-Turn

In July 2015, those excoriating conditions were subjected to a public vote, an action that threw the EU into a deeper existential crisis.

Even though the vote was carried decisively by voters who opposed the cuts, Tsipras was forced to reject its outcome then negotiate a rescue deal from foreign lenders which proved to be even harsher.

Final Straw

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

“He was the public image of negotiation, the man who drew publicity, who appeared on the covers of publications the world over … it seemed he relished the spotlight.”

When Varoufakis proposed a backup strategy involving establishing a secondary currency as well as distributing coupons to pensioners, the leader knew it was game over questioning him: “Are you serious?”

Enduring Rebuke

In the book, the author asserts that his former ally had proved himself to be “unsuitable for an agreement demanding intricate and delicate management.”

He further wrote that Varoufakis's confrontational approach made him increasingly isolated with colleagues, put Greece at risk, while helped hawks who were pushing for a Greek exit from the euro.

The retelling of history has provoked anger and shock in some quarters, while Varoufakis has so far kept a conspicuous quiet on the matter.