'Hello, dictator!': Juncker tries humour to defuse Hungary row


  • World
  • Friday, 22 May 2015

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker (R) speaks to Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban before the Eastern Partnership Summit session in Riga, Latvia, May 22, 2015. REUTERS/Ints Kalnins

RIGA (Reuters) - "Hello, dictator!" is an uncommon form of address for a European leader to use to another but EU chief executive Jean-Claude Juncker greeted Hungary's Viktor Orban that way on Friday.

Delivered with a mischievous smile and a warm handshake at a summit in Riga, the European Commission president's remark seemed to mix mild admonishment with heavy humour to try to defuse tension after a particularly rough week in relations between Brussels and the right-wing prime minister in Budapest.

Limited time offer:
Just RM5 per month.

Monthly Plan

RM13.90/month
RM5/month

Billed as RM5/month for the 1st 6 months then RM13.90 thereafters.

Annual Plan

RM12.33/month

Billed as RM148.00/year

1 month

Free Trial

For new subscribers only


Cancel anytime. No ads. Auto-renewal. Unlimited access to the web and app. Personalised features. Members rewards.
Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!
   

Next In World

Spain to send Patriot missiles to Ukraine, El Pais reports
Swiss parliamentary committee backs $5.5 billion aid plan for Ukraine
South Sudanese comedians find laughs in painful past
Elon Musk is once again richer than Mark Zuckerberg as fortunes reverse
GPS bracelet places 18-year-old at the scene of 11 different break-ins, US cops say
Ukraine court orders agriculture minister to be taken into custody
Cat hides in Amazon return package – then ends up in California 700 miles from home
ByteDance prefers TikTok shutdown in US if legal options fail, sources say
Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, Andy Jassy deleted chats amid FTC antitrust probe
Mexican lawmakers approve new pension fund backed by president

Others Also Read