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In a newly released memoir, named Ithaki, the former premier Alexis Tsipras pulls no punches as he examines that turbulent era of Greece's economic turmoil.

A Controversial Appointment

In the ex-PM's version, he chose that maverick academic Yanis Varoufakis to be his treasury head largely due to the latter's global profile along with his highly compelling abilities as a public orator.

“In reality, he was, truthfully, more like a personality and less of an economist,” recalled the 51-year-old.

Conflicting Priorities

Tsipras claims that Varoufakis had his own agenda which included advancing his publications and testing out his own economic models using Greece instead of truly fighting for its financial survival.

Tsipras wrote that the talks to prevent bankruptcy were “not only a way to secure a better deal for Greece. They became an experiment, an historic chance to prove the validity of his theories.”

Critical Negotiations

During rollercoaster negotiations, the country found itself dangerously close to leaving the single currency area.

At stake was both the country's destiny but also those severe austerity measures required in exchange for financial aid by foreign lenders.

Unsuccessful Options

Efforts to find financing elsewhere, including an urgent plea to the Kremlin to buy Greek bonds, were rejected.

Helping Greece was tantamount to tossing cash into the garbage, Putin reportedly told Tsipras in Moscow.

Public Vote Followed by U-Turn

That summer, those excoriating conditions were subjected to a public vote, an action that threw the EU into further crisis of identity.

Although the referendum was won resoundingly by voters who opposed austerity, the prime minister was forced but to ignore the result and agree to a bailout package from foreign lenders which turned out to be more severe.

Breaking Point

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

“He was the public image of negotiation, the man who drew media attention, who graced the covers of magazines the world over … he gave the impression he relished his new role.”

After the minister outlined a contingency plan that included establishing a secondary currency and issuing vouchers to pensioners, Tsipras knew it was the end and asked him: “Can you be serious?”

Enduring Rebuke

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

He further wrote how Varoufakis's aggressive approach made him increasingly isolated with colleagues, put Greece at risk, while helped hardliners who were advocating Grexit.

The account of events has been met with anger along with shock in some quarters, while the former minister has so far kept a deafening silence on the matter.