Charles Michel “hadn’t seen” that the Ugandan foreign minister had passed Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the EU-Africa summit in Brussels without shaking her hand. That’s what his communications advisor said.
European Council President von der Leyen and French President Emmanuel Macron greeted their guests on Thursday on the first day of the two-day summit. Haji Abubakhar Jeje Odongo rushed past Von der Leyen at one point to shake hands with the two men. Only after Macron pointed out the presence of the Commission president to the minister did he address her. He still didn’t shake her hand, though.
“The video clearly shows Michel talking to President Macron as the guest passed President von der Leyen,” his adviser said on Twitter. “Michel then turns to President Macron to ask him what had happened. And the president has replied, “Yes, he didn’t shake her hand.” Michel simply did not see that the minister had passed Mrs von der Leyen in that way.”
On social media, some labeled Michel’s passive attitude as a second case of ‘sofagate’. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan then had the former Belgian Prime Minister sit in the armchair next to him during a visit by Michel and von der Leyen to Ankara. The German Commission President had to settle for a seat in the background. Von der Leyen then reacted very displeased to the incident. This time, the Commission President has not yet responded.
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