"With the dictators we must be frank, but cooperate”. These are the words used on Thursday by the Prime Minister, Mario Draghi, to refer to the Turkish president Erdogan. It is the first time that the leader of a Western country - a member of NATO such as Turkey - defines Ankara's number one as a "dictator". The opening of a diplomatic case is inevitable, to the point that Turkey has summoned the Italian ambassador to get explanations.
Actually, the explanation is not difficult. Draghi wanted to reply harshly to disrespect demonstrated by Erdogan against the number one of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, received on Wednesday by the Turkish leader together with the president of the European Council, Charles Michel, but relegated to a sofa at a safe distance from the two men, who were reserved executive seats. It is no coincidence that protests against Michel's incredibly accommodating behavior towards Erdogan are also mounting in Europe.
“I do not agree with Erdogan's behavior towards the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen – said Draghi – I think it was inappropriate behavior, I was very sorry for the humiliation that the president of the European Commission had to suffer. With these dictators, let's call them for what they are, but they are needed, one must be frank in expressing one's diversity of views and visions of society; and he must also be ready to cooperate to ensure the interests of his country. You have to find the right balance."
A few hours later the Turkish Foreign MinisterMevlut Cavusoglu said he "strongly condemned the unacceptable populist rhetoric of Italy's appointed Prime Minister Draghi and his nasty and unrelenting statements about our president-elect."
At the end of March, Erdogan withdrew his country from the Istanbul Convention against violence against women, just the day after a video meeting with Von der Leyen and Michel. Brussels criticized the choice, once again raising the problem of the lack of respect for human rights in Turkey to the detriment of the Kurdish population, women, activists and journalists.
hei n'guye gourgugnau I don't care where you come from but even European children know that the president of the commission and the president of the council are the same, and then merdogan's minion could also sit on the fireplace as far as I'm concerned, the fact is that the there had to be three chairs, unfortunately the despot camel driver didn't like dear ursula's words because of turkey's exit from the women's rights movement held in istanbul a few weeks earlier, great mario dragons, turkey is not europe and it is not has ever been a part
Frankly, the whole sofa gate controversy seems “curious” to me. I've seen articles even say it was left standing in the title, obviously that's not the case.
I bet if Michel had gone to the sofas NOBODY would have protested. I express my opinion:
The place of honor went to Michel, who being the President of the European Council, as a representative of foreign policy, is very likely to have been considered the most important man by virtue of his role, in that meeting, according to the hypothetical etiquette.
It has nothing to do with it, being male or female.
Michel could have given it to her, by the way. He didn't.
Furthermore, many articles do not show that there was a "MAN" in the sofa opposite Von Der Leyen, an important Turkish personality. This “MAN” was treated the SAME way as SHE.
His name is Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, he was sitting on a sofa with a microphone.
Most of the articles don't show that there were 4 people and not 3..
Mevlüt had a very important role in the meeting, being the current Turkish foreign minister. Yet he did not complain about being on the sofa. What "lese-majeste" would have been committed, given that Van Der Leyen was treated identically to the MAN Turkish Foreign Minister? that he sat opposite her? You can see it in the video.