‘Sofa gate’ statement by Charles Michel: I cannot sleep

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European Council President Charles Michel has made a statement about his and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's visit to Turkey's President and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the Presidential complex.

Speaking to Germany's Handelsblatt newspaper about von der Leyen not given an equal seat with him and Erdoğan, Michel has said, "I make no secret of the fact that I have not slept well at night since then," adding that he would go back and rectify the situation if it were possible.

"My fear was that if I had reacted in any way, I would have triggered a much more serious incident," said Michel further.

What happened?

Sergey Lagodinsky, the Chair of the Delegation to the European Union (EU) - Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee, drew attention to the fact that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was not given an equal seat during her and European Council President Charles Michel's visit to ruling AKP Chair and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

In a video shared by Lagodinsky on Twitter shortly after the meeting at the Presidency on April 6, 2021, it was seen that Erdoğan and Michel sat on two equal seats across each other while von der Leyen remained standing for some time, to which she responded with "Ehm."

Lagodinsky has said, "'Ehm' is the new term for 'that's not how EU-Turkey relationship should be'. #GiveHerASeat #EU #Turkey #womensrights"

"Ehm" is the new term for "that's not how EU-Turkey relationship should be". #GiveHerASeat #EU #Turkey #womensrights pic.twitter.com/vGVFutDu0S

— Sergey Lagodinsky (@SLagodinsky) April 6, 2021

Von der Leyen's spokesperson Eric Mamer said, "President (von der Leyen) should have been seated in exactly the same manner as the president of the European Council and the Turkish president."

Sophie in 't Veld, a member of the European Parliament, also tweeted previous pictures where Erdoğan was seen to be hosting European Council and European Commission Presidents on equal seats. "And no, it wasn't a coincidence it was deliberate," she commented.

The controversial arrangement of seats at the meeting of two top EU officials with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara was made in line with the EU's requests, said Minister of Foreign Affairs Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, making a statement about the issue later.

"In the latest bilateral talks, which took place at the presidential complex, the European Union side's requests were fulfilled," Çavuşoğlu told reporters on April 8. "I would like to state that the EU's requests were satisfied and fulfilled. This was their wish," he added. (RT/SD)