Within his recently unveiled personal account, named Ithaki, the former premier Alexis Tsipras pulls no punches as he revisits the turbulent era during Greece's financial crisis.
As per the ex-PM's version, he chose that unorthodox academic Yanis Varoufakis to be his finance minister largely due to his worldwide fame and Varoufakis's highly compelling skills as a public orator.
“He was, truthfully, more like a celebrity rather than an economist,” wrote the 51-year-old.
The former leader claims how his finance chief possessed a personal agenda which included promoting Varoufakis's books as well as experimenting with his own economic models using the nation instead of truly fighting for its economic stability.
He noted how those talks to stave off bankruptcy were “not only a way to secure a better deal for Greece. They became an experiment, a monumental opportunity to demonstrate the truth of his theories.”
During rollercoaster negotiations, the country came dangerously on the brink of leaving the single currency area.
At stake lay both Greece's destiny and those severe austerity measures required in return for financial aid by international creditors.
Attempts to find financing from other sources, including an urgent plea to the Kremlin to buy Greek government bonds, went unanswered.
Assisting the indebted country would be tantamount to throwing money into the garbage, Putin reportedly informed his Greek counterpart during their meeting.
That summer, those harsh conditions were put to a public vote, an action that threw Europe into further existential crisis.
Even though the referendum was carried decisively by voters who opposed austerity, the prime minister had little option to reject its outcome and negotiate a rescue deal with foreign lenders which turned out to be even harsher.
The ex-PM claimed that he started questioning his finance minister quite early on.
“Varoufakis was the public image of negotiation, the man who drew media attention, who graced the covers of publications the world over … it seemed he relished his new role.”
After Varoufakis proposed a backup strategy involving establishing a secondary currency and issuing vouchers to pensioners, the leader said he realised it was the end questioning Varoufakis: “Are you serious?”
In the book, the author concludes how his former ally demonstrated himself to be “unfit for an agreement demanding complex and sensitive handling.”
Tsipras further wrote that Varoufakis's confrontational approach left him more and more alone with colleagues, put Greece at risk, and helped hardliners who were pushing for a Greek exit from the euro.
The retelling of history has provoked anger and shock among certain groups, while the former minister has maintained a conspicuous quiet regarding these claims.
Maya Chen is a freelance writer and urban enthusiast with a passion for documenting city life and cultural shifts.
