'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.

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