At the European Political Community (EPC) summit in Budapest, a diplomatic incident occurred when Romanian President Klaus Iohannis appeared to deliberately turn his back on Prime Minister Viktor Orbán upon arrival at the Puskás Arena, writes Krónika Online.
Prime Minister Orbán had personally welcomed heads of state and politicians attending the summit, including leaders like Ursula von der Leyen, Emmanuel Macron, and Volodymyr Zelensky. However, when Iohannis’ car arrived, the Romanian politician did not immediately approach him, instead turning away to speak with an adviser for about 20 seconds before acknowledging his host.
This moment was captured on video (at 01:19:00) and criticized by Romanian media, with Antena3 calling it a “controversial gesture.”
President Iohannis’ behavior is not surprising given his well-documented animosity towards Prime Minister Orbán. Tensions between the two have been high for years, with Klaus Iohannis accusing Orbán’s government of seeking to annex Transylvania. This antipathy was also evident in Iohannis’ earlier actions, such as a past incident in France where he angrily threw his coat on a car roof after his delegation was slow to assist him.
Iohannis’ impatient nature has caused diplomatic rifts before.
Despite this, Viktor Orbán remained composed during the exchange, smiling as he waited for Mr. Iohannis to approach.
The EPC summit continues to bring attention to Hungary’s role in European politics, with Orbán’s calm demeanor standing in contrast to Klaus Iohannis’ more volatile conduct. As leaders continue to navigate tense political dynamics, moments like these underline the personal rivalries shaping the summit’s discussions.
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Via kronika.ro; Featured Image: Screenshot from the video
