Sofagate: EU chief Ursula von der Leyen blames sexism for Turkey chair snub

[sarahazhari]

Ursula von der Leyen was left without a chair at a meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara on 6 April.Turkey was criticised, as was EU Council President Charles Michel, who took the only chair next to Mr ErdoğanTurkey blamed the EU for the gaffe that saw Mrs von der Leyen sit on a sofa.Ursula von der Leyen was left without a chair at a meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara on 6 April.Turkey was criticised, as was EU Council President Charles Michel, who took the only chair next to Mr ErdoğanTurkey blamed the EU for the gaffe that saw Mrs von der Leyen sit on a sofa.But in a speech to the European Parliament on Monday, Mrs von der Leyen suggested sexism was at the root of the seating blunder, known as "sofagate".Mrs von der Leyen, 62, said she could see no reason why she should have been treated differently to Mr Michel, who has apologised for his role in the affair.
https://dandc-c.com/forums/topic/170349/https://dandc-c.com/forums/...

Speaking to parliament, Mr Michel again expressed his regret over the situation, which he said he understood offended many women. He also told lawmakers that deeper economic ties with Turkey were difficult because of a deterioration of basic rights and freedoms in Turkey, including those of women.