EU commission head taken aback as Erdogan and her colleague snap up the chairs

Erdogan’s chair scandal reflects poorly on Turkey and Europe

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan caused a diplomatic scandal when, earlier this week, he hosted Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Union’s executive arm, and Charles Michel, the president of the European Council, at Erdogan’s 1,100-room palace.

Rapprochement with Ankara stillborn as 'sofagate' hits EU-Turkey relations

The European Commission has hit out at Turkey after the commission chief Ursula von der Leyen was left without a chair as she was in Ankara for talks with the Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

'Sofagate': Turkish Foreign Minister Rejects 'Unfair Accusations' Over Chair Incident

On Tuesday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was unpleasantly surprised by Turkish-style diplomatic graces, when she realised she had been left without a chair as her fellow senior EU official sat down with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan for talks in Ankara.

Turkey rejects claim it snubbed von der Leyen, blames EU

Turkey is rejecting accusations that it snubbed Ursula von der Leyen — one of the European Union’s most powerful executives — during a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan because of her gender

Turkey rejects claim it snubbed von der Leyen, blames EU

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey is rejecting accusations that it snubbed Ursula von der Leyen — one of the European Union’s most powerful executives — during a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan because of her gender. Turkey’s foreign minister insisted Thursday that the EU’s own protocol “requests” were applied during a visit by the EU Commission president and European Council chief Charles Michel. Images of the visit showed Michel…

Turkey rejects claim it snubbed von der Leyen, blames EU

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey is rejecting accusations that it snubbed Ursula von der Leyen — one of the European Union’s most powerful executives — during a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan because of her gender. Turkey’s foreign minister insisted Thursday that the EU’s own protocol “requests” were applied during a visit by the EU Commission president and European Council chief Charles Michel. Images of the visit showed Michel…