This article is from the source 'rtcom' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.rt.com/news/345474-junker-riga-drunk-speculation/
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Juncker drunk? EU chief at summit slaps world leaders, compares ties (VIDEO) | Juncker drunk? EU chief at summit slaps world leaders, compares ties (VIDEO) |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A video of Jean-Claude Juncker, the European Commission President, in a strangely boisterous mood at an EU summit last year has provoked a belated social media storm, weeks before Britain votes on whether to stay in the union. | |
| The footage showing Juncker’s unorthodox diplomacy was shot during the EU-Eastern Partnership summit, which was held on May 21-22, 2015 in Latvia. While it was posted last year, it has been rapidly gathering views and media coverage in the past few days. | |
| Standing in front of the cameras alongside fellow EU official Donald Tusk, who heads the European Council, and the host nation’s prime minister, Laimdota Straujuma, Juncker made a number of friendly gestures which may seem too frivolous for the occasion. | Standing in front of the cameras alongside fellow EU official Donald Tusk, who heads the European Council, and the host nation’s prime minister, Laimdota Straujuma, Juncker made a number of friendly gestures which may seem too frivolous for the occasion. |
| He slapped several fellow leaders on the face, according to a video of the event published last week, and kissed some on the cheek. Another guest he asked to bow so that he could kiss his balding head. | He slapped several fellow leaders on the face, according to a video of the event published last week, and kissed some on the cheek. Another guest he asked to bow so that he could kiss his balding head. |
| With two male delegates, Junker compared the color of their ties. He also jokingly reproached Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras for not wearing one. | With two male delegates, Junker compared the color of their ties. He also jokingly reproached Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras for not wearing one. |
| Junker greeted Spanish Foreign Minister José García-Margallo y Marfil with a military salute. The perplexed politician, who has no military background, awkwardly returned the compliment. | Junker greeted Spanish Foreign Minister José García-Margallo y Marfil with a military salute. The perplexed politician, who has no military background, awkwardly returned the compliment. |
| Earlier media reports mentioned Junker’s cheery disposition at the media conference, buy they focused on the way he introduced the approaching Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban with the words: “The dictator is coming.” Orban is known for his Eurosceptic views and is accused of attacking democratic values by critics. | Earlier media reports mentioned Junker’s cheery disposition at the media conference, buy they focused on the way he introduced the approaching Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban with the words: “The dictator is coming.” Orban is known for his Eurosceptic views and is accused of attacking democratic values by critics. |
| The EU official has long been speculated to be a heavy drinker and previously demonstrated off behavior in public. At the time of his nomination in 2014, the Financial Times joked: “Perhaps the next EU President could have one of those slogans on the office wall – ‘You don’t have to be drunk to work here, but it helps.’” | The EU official has long been speculated to be a heavy drinker and previously demonstrated off behavior in public. At the time of his nomination in 2014, the Financial Times joked: “Perhaps the next EU President could have one of those slogans on the office wall – ‘You don’t have to be drunk to work here, but it helps.’” |