Ursula Examines Sexism Via Bird Room Snub Leaving The Commission President Status.

The first woman president of the eu fee has vowed to defend women’s rights. After admitting to feeling “hurt” by means of a chair snub for the duration of a summit with male leaders in turkey. Ursula von der leyen turned into left without a chair at a assembly with president recep tayyip erdoğan in ankara on 6 april.

Turkey turned into criticised, as became european council president charles michel, who took the simplest chair next to mr erdoğan. Turkey blamed the european for the gaffe that saw mrs von der leyen sit down on a settee. However in a speech to the eu parliament on monday, mrs von der leyen advised sexism was at the basis of the seating blunder, referred to as “sofagate”. Mrs von der leyen, sixty two, said she ought to see no cause. Why she should were handled in another way to Mr Michel, who has apologised for his function in the affair.

What occurred at the assembly?

The assembly become organized to restore strained family members among the ecu and turkey. Mrs von der leyen and mr michel held talks with president erdoğan at his presidential palace. However while the 3 leaders got here to take a seat down, there had been just two chairs. Mr michel and mr erdoğan took their seats in two gilded ottoman-fashion chairs, leaving the commission president status. In photos of the assembly, mrs von der leyen appeared visibly shocked, making her displeasure clean with an audible “ahem”.

Mrs von der leyen in the end sat down on a settee, nicely away from the turkish chief and contrary the turkish foreign minister. Comparisons have been drawn among this meeting and one in brussels in 2017. On that event, the 2 men heading the european fee and council sat beside the turkish president in secure armchairs.