Almost 50 leaders from Europe gathered on Thursday for the second summit of the European Political Community at Mimi Castle near Chisinau in the Republic of Moldova.
The host, Maia Sandu, the president of the Republic of Moldova, was with the most important presidents or prime ministers from Europe, who participated in the event.
Maia Sandu refused Viktor Orban to kiss her hand
Most of those present shook hands with Maia Sandu. Among them was President Klaus Iohannis, as well as Volodymyr Zelenskiy – the President of Ukraine and Emmanuel Macron – the President of France.
Unlike them, the Prime Minister of Hungary, Viktor Orban, wanted to kiss her hand. But stupor. Maia Sandu refused the gesture and withdrew her hand, when the Hungarian Prime Minister bent down to kiss her hand.
Another unique moment happened when the Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama and the head of the Italian Cabinet of Ministers, Giorgia Meloni. Coming from behind, Edi Rama took Giorgia Meloni by the neck and kissed her face with all the European leaders present in the Republic of Moldova. Journalists from “Corriere della Sera” wrote about the gesture of the Albanian Prime Minister: “The affectionate (and flagrant) greeting of the Albanian Prime Minister Rama to Meloni”, writes Libertatea.ro.
The president of Romania did not escape criticism either. He wore sunglasses like Top Gun.
Incidentally, this was not the first or only time when President Iohannis appeared at official meetings wearing his sunglasses. It also happened in 2017, when he was present at an event at the “Mihail Kogălniceau” military base, but also in 2019, at a campaign to collect signatures to support his candidacy in the presidential elections, the same source says.
At least Ioannis wore a suit. Volodymyr Zelenski refused to wear it, as he has done at all official meetings since his country is at war, according to Adevărul.ro.
