A scandal broke out at the EU-Africa summit: During the official welcome, the Ugandan Foreign Minister ignored Ursula von der Leyen. Macron was the first to remedy the situation.
Brussels – The core topic at the first summit meeting between the European and African Unions in four years was actually billions in investments by the EU – Brussels wants to use them to strengthen its influence on the African continent vis-à-vis China. But a scandal as soon as the President of the Commission Ursula von der Leyen* and the Ugandan Foreign Minister were welcomed drew a lot of attention.
Ursula von der Leyen: scandal at summit – Ugandans ignore EU Commission President
The faux pas can be seen in a video posted by WDR presenter Georgine Kellermann, among others. Lined up from left to right are Ursula von der Leyen, Council President Charles Michel and French President Emmanuel Macron*. After apparently several African ministers had already been asked to say hello, Ugandan Foreign Minister Jeje Odongo appears in the video clip.
Ursula von der Leyen is visibly ready to greet the politician and says something in his direction. But the Ugandan minister walks straight past her and shakes hands first with Charles Michel and then with Emmanuel Macron. While the Council President looks somewhat helplessly from one side to the other, Macron is the first to draw the politician’s attention to von der Leyen.
Ursula von der Leyen ignored at the EU-Africa summit – TV presenter outraged
Odongo does not seem to notice the hint at first and positions himself between von der Leyen and Michel for a photo. Only after another gesture from the French President did the Ugandan Foreign Minister turn to von der Leyen. Unlike the two men, however, he does not shake hands with her, but greets her with a nod and a few words that cannot be heard in the video.
Kellermann commented on the situation outraged. “I can not believe it. Toxic masculinity at its finest. And Charles Michel is at it again. This uncouth politician has no place there. Where does a man learn to behave like that?” she writes angrily. Finally, however, she thanks Macron, who was able to mitigate the diplomatic misstep a little.
Ursula von der Leyen: Ugandan Foreign Minister ignores Commission President – reminder of “SofaGate”
The dig at Charles Michel is probably no coincidence. Only in April of the previous year was von der Leyen duped by Turkish President Erdogan when he offered Michel the seat next to him and the highest-ranking EU politician had to sit a good bit further away on a sofa next to the gentlemen. At the time, Michel did not offer von der Leyen his seat, but remained seated; the scandal made headlines as “SofaGate”.
But not only the WDR presenter Kellermann, but also other Twitter users complain about the behavior of the men. “What a pathetic wretch,” writes one of the Ugandan foreign minister. “Disgusting behavior” and “You shouldn’t have accepted the handshake at all” find others.
A user also writes: “The behavior is unforgivable. Also Michel’s. Yet again. But I have the impression that the minister from East Africa is completely overwhelmed and doesn’t even know what to do.” From the official side – neither from Ursula von der Leyen nor from Charles Michel – there is no statement on the incident. (mef/dpa) * Merkur.de is an offer from IPPEN.MEDIA.
#Ursula #von #der #Leyen #scandal #summit