Ursula von der Leyan is first woman President
for European Commission. She was politician from Germany before she was elected
to EU and was played very vital role in Brexit. Turkish President Erdogan
snubbed EU Chief von der Leyan leaving no chair during the discussion in
Ankara.
During their Ankara visit, European Commission President Ursula von der
Leyen was taken aback to find her fellow top EU Official taking the only chair
available next to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Erdogan and his male counterpart sat
down for a meeting, leaving no chair to first woman President of EU. Von der
Leyen was caught off-guard seeing only three chairs and murmuring inside “Ehm”
and no clarity where to sit. Finally! she was occupied on a sofa which was
place opposite to Turkey’s foreign minister who is inferior to her in rank.
After the “sofagate”, gender equality advocates brought the issue to center
stage in Brussels. She went to Turkey for talks with Erdogan on EU and Turkey
relations. Reportedly, the meeting between the three leaders lasted more than
two hours and a half.
EU strongly believed whatever happened
in Ankara is not coincidence. Pictures of 2015 meeting with Turkey President went
viral in Social Media where Michel, predecessor of Von der Leyen sat beside
Turkey President. This incident will make impact on relations between Turkey
and EU. Two are making an attempt to strengthen ties despite issues over Ankara’s
worst record on women’s safety and rights. After this meeting, Turkey has
withdrawn from global Istanbul Convention on preventing violence against women
and children. She said after the meeting that human rights issues are non-negotiable
and expressed least bother on Turkey’s decision to opt out from the global
convention.
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