Who is really in charge? The people or the markets? 

In the first episode of Radical Thinking, a new series from the Guardian, senior economics commentator Aditya Chakrabortty speaks to the former Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis. 

In an extended interview, we hear what it was like during the Eurocrisis when he went head to head with those who wanted to stop his economic changes. And, what does he make of Andy Burnham's plans to 'rewire' the UK economy? 

Radical Thinking will be published every Saturday in the Politics Weekly feed

Greek leftwing intellectual and former minister says his indictment is indicative of far-right turn in western politics

Yanis Varoufakis, the leftwing firebrand who briefly served as Greece’s finance minister, has criticised his “ridiculous prosecution” for allegedly promoting the use of recreational drugs after his public admission that he once took an ecstasy pill almost 40 years ago.

The 64-year-old, who reminisced about the experience on a podcast, was charged on Wednesday with “inciting others in the illegal use of narcotics”. If convicted he faces a prison term of at least six months and up to €50,000 (£44,000) in fines. A court hearing has been scheduled for December.

Alexis Tsipras says that during debt crisis Yanis Varoufakis was more interested in promoting his books

Yanis Varoufakis, the firebrand economist who rose to fame at the height of Greece’s debt drama, was not only egotistical but ultimately more interested in testing out his game theories on the nation than winning its battle to keep afloat.

So writes the former prime minister Alexis Tsipras in his newly released memoir, Ithaki, as the once radical leftwing leader, sparing no punches, seeks, 10 years later, to put the record straight.