Sofagate

Ursula von der Leyen was the European Union's first female President of the European Commission.{{Cite news |date=2021-04-26 |title=Sofagate: EU chief Ursula von der Leyen blames sexism for Turkey chair snub |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-56896734 |access-date=2023-01-13}} The fact that a woman became the successor of Jean-Claude Juncker was welcomed by him and other EU politicians.{{Cite web |date=17 July 2019 |title=Endlich steht die erste Frau an der Spitze der EU-Kommission |url=https://www.zeit.de/zustimmung?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.zeit.de%2Fpolitik%2Fdeutschland%2F2019-07%2Fwahl-kommissionspraesidentin-ursula-von-der-leyen-reaktionen |access-date=2021-04-10 |website=Die Zeit}}

The protocol team for the European Council was the lone representative of the EU at a pre-meeting in Turkey. The protocol team for the European Commission was not sent by the Commission due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the Commission assumed and expected that the protocol team for the European Council would also act in compliance with the interests of von der Leyen. Adding to the complication, the local EU delegation in Turkey was supposed to be the main contact point for the Turkish side. However, the local EU delegation was sidelined when the European Council sent its own protocol team including a Protocol officer who established a direct contact with the Turkish Protocol. Turkish and EU officials held a final meeting on Monday to go over protocol and security, but were not given access to the meeting room as the room was deemed too close to the President's office.{{Cite news |date=7 April 2021 |title="SofaGate"-Affäre: Von der Leyen sollte zunächst nicht mit aufs Foto |language=de |work=Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung |url=https://www.faz.net/1.7283511 |access-date=2021-03-22 |issn=0174-4909}}

The EU team was able to achieve an adjustment in the seating arrangement in the dining room in order that all three mandatories were sitting in chairs of the same height. {{Clarify|date=September 2023|text=Besides it was Charles Michel,}} who suggested von der Leyen should be included in the official photo of the meeting which initially was not to be the case.

As the President of the European Council Charles Michel and the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen were to meet the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu on 6 April 2021, there were only two chairs and two sofas prepared for the four of them in the room they were received.{{cite web |url=https://www.iletisim.gov.tr/turkce/haberler/detay/president-erdogan-receives-eu-council-president-michel-and-eu-commission-president-von-der-leyen |title=President Erdoğan receives EU Council President Michel and EU Commission President von der Leyen |publisher=Directorate of Communications |date=6 April 2021 |access-date=7 December 2024}} Charles Michel hurried to seat himself in the chair beside Erdoğan, leaving Von der Leyen seemingly surprised.{{Citation |title="Sofa-Gate": Kein Stuhl für von der Leyen |date=8 April 2021 |url=https://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/sofa-gate-kein-stuhl-fuer-von-der-leyen-17283168.html |publisher=Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung |language=de |access-date=2021-04-10}} She then took a seat on a sofa next to the chair, across the Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu. Michel accepted the more prominent position in a chair beside the Turkish president, while von der Leyen was not offered a chair despite both Michel and von der Leyen bearing the title president.

The President of the European Council Charles Michel defended himself alleging having worried that had he acted otherwise, the diplomatic relations between the EU and Turkey would have been strained further and preparations met for the meeting would have been destroyed.{{Cite news |last=Mussler |first=Werner |date=9 April 2021 |title=Eklat um Ursula von der Leyen: Charles Michels Sicht aufs "Sofagate" |language=de |work=Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung |url=https://www.faz.net/1.7285835 |access-date=2021-04-10 |issn=0174-4909}} He further mentioned that a possible cause of the distressing situation was that Turkey had strictly adhered to the diplomatic protocol{{Cite web|date=7 April 2021|title=Statement by Charles Michel on Facebook|url=https://www.facebook.com/CharlesMichel/posts/4061257440597290|access-date=2021-04-12|website=Facebook|language=en}} which rates the head of the European Council above the head of the European Commission.{{Cite web |date=13 April 2021 |title=Von der Leyen zieht Konsequenz aus "Sofagate" |url=https://www.n-tv.de/politik/Von-der-Leyen-zieht-Konsequenz-aus-Sofagate-article22485564.html |access-date=2021-04-25 |website=n-tv |language=de}} Michel stated that he slept poorly during the nights following the incident and would rectify the situation if he could go back.{{cite web |title=EU's Michel says he's sleeping badly after sofa gaffe in Turkey |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/eus-michel-says-hes-sleeping-badly-after-sofa-gaffe-turkey-2021-04-10/ |website=Reuters |access-date=24 March 2023 |date=10 April 2021}}{{cite web |title=EU's Michel 'hasn't slept well' since chair gaffe in Turkey |url=https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2021/04/08/eu-chief-michel-sad-over-chair-gaffe-but-stops-short-of-saying-sorry |website=Euronews |access-date=24 March 2023 |date=10 April 2021}}

The European Council's protocol chief Dominique Marro listed in a report that they would have liked done on von der Leyen's behalf, including suggesting "to our hosts to replace the sofa with two chairs, as a courtesy to the President of the Commission". However, these suggestions were never made by the European Council's protocol team. Marro also reiterated that Turkey had interpreted the diplomatic protocol too strictly, which could be at the origin of the inconvenience, the European Council report stated.

Von der Leyen herself mentioned she felt abandoned, as a woman but also as a European, and denounced the event as a sign of sexism. Eric Mamer, the chief spokesperson for the EU Commission confirmed that Von der Leyen was surprised by the situation but preferred to focus on the matter of the meeting and not on the form of the protocol.{{Cite web |date=2021-04-07 |title=Sofa, so bad: Turkish seating snafu hits von der Leyen, Michel |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/sofagate-ursula-von-der-leyen-turkey-sofa-charles-michel-recep-tayyip-erdogan/ |access-date=2021-04-10 |website=Politico |language=en-US}} The commission demanded that a modus vivendi shall be crafted to prevent such incidents in the future.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=9 April 2021 |title=Italiens Regierungschef Draghi beschimpft Erdogan als Diktator |url=https://www.dw.com/de/italiens-regierungschef-draghi-beschimpft-erdogan-als-diktator/a-57139711 |access-date=2021-04-10 |website=Deutsche Welle |language=de-DE}}

The Italian Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Massimiliano Smeriglio initiated a signature campaign demanding Michel's resignation over the incident.{{Cite web|last=D'Argenio|first=Alberto|title=Michel cerca von der Leyen, ma lei non risponde: il "sofa-gate" scuote i vertici dell'Europa|url=https://www.msn.com/it-it/notizie/mondo/michel-cerca-von-der-leyen-ma-lei-non-risponde-il-sofa-gate-scuote-i-vertici-delleuropa/ar-BB1ftW8U|access-date=2021-04-10|website=www.msn.com|publisher=La Repubblica}} The Spanish MEP Iratxe Garcia Perez, leader of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, criticised both Charles Michel and Erdoğan over the inferior treatment of the woman amongst the three leaders, accusing the two men of "micromachismo and rudeness". Many other Members of the European Parliament were also said to be moved by Michel's lack of reaction to the incident, while Belgian MEP Assita Kanko asked, "Why did Michel sit down? Why couldn't he... look at Ms. von der Leyen and show his solidarity".{{Cite web|last=Sipos|first=Aurélie|date=2021-04-09|title=«Sofagate» : cinq minutes pour comprendre cet incident diplomatique européen|url=https://www.leparisien.fr/international/sofagate-cinq-minutes-pour-comprendre-cet-incident-diplomatique-europeen-09-04-2021-UM6JX7QKSRB5VDBE3SZH3GCYHY.php|access-date=2021-11-03|website=Le Parisien|language=fr-FR}} The Dutch Member of the European Parliament Sophie in 't Veld mentioned that in a former meeting between the two EU leaders and Erdoğan, all three were seated in chairs.{{Cite web|date=7 April 2021|title=EU-Turkey Meeting Turns Awkward as Von der Leyen Left Without Chair|url=https://www.voanews.com/a/europe_eu-turkey-meeting-turns-awkward-von-der-leyen-left-without-chair/6204254.html|access-date=2021-04-10|website=Voice of America|language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Hutchinson |first=Lorna |date=2021-04-07 |title=Von der Leyen relegated to sofa in Turkey meeting as MEPs decry diplomatic snub |url=https://www.theparliamentmagazine.eu/news/article/von-der-leyen-relegated-to-sofa-in-turkey-meeting-as-meps-decry-diplomatic-snub |access-date=2022-05-15 |website=The Parliament Magazine |language=en}} She also criticized Ursula von der Leyen for refusing to take a stand, in this and many other instances and allowing the European Commission to take a backseat to the European Council.{{Cite web|last=In 't Veld|first=Sophie|author-link=Sophie in 't Veld|date=2021-04-09|title=What Sofagate says about Ursula von der Leyen|url=https://www.politico.eu/article/what-sofagate-says-about-ursula-von-der-leyen/|access-date=2021-11-03|website=Politico|language=en-US}} Marc Angel, an MEP for Luxembourg and the Co-president of the LGTBI group in the European Parliament said Michel had lost the opportunity to take a stand for general equality by either giving the seat to von der Leyen or taking a seat on the sofa.

The EU rapporteur on Turkey Nacho Sánchez Amor drew attention to the fact that several politicians of the pro-Kurdish Peoples Democratic Party, following a crackdown by the Turkish government, had lost their mandate, stating "Let's not lose focus on what seats are at stake!"{{Cite web|date=2021-09-04|title=After sofagate, EP's Turkey rapporteur draws attention to seats that HDP 'lost'|url=https://www.duvarenglish.com/after-sofagate-eps-turkey-rapporteur-nacho-sanchez-amor-draws-attention-to-seats-that-hdp-lost-news-57027|access-date=2021-04-10|website=Gazete Duvar}}

A petition by women's rights associations was started, demanding Charles Michel step down due to his approach to the incident.{{Cite web |last=O'Kaine |first=Caitlin |date=13 April 2021 |title="Sofagate": Thousands sign petition for head of European Council to resign after he took chair from female colleague in viral video |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/sofagate-charles-michel-ursula-von-der-leyen/ |access-date=2022-07-21 |website=CBS |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=2021-04-08 - Sofagate: Letter to the President of the European Council |url=https://www.millennia2025-foundation.org/2021-04-08_lettre_president-conseil-europeen_en.html#top |access-date=2022-07-21 |website=www.millennia2025-foundation.org}} Recalling that the incident took place just fifteen days after Erdogan decided to leave the Istanbul Convention aimed at preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence in defense, they deemed Michels taking the seat as supportive of Turkey's aims in depriving women of their rights. Further, the group alleged that Michels' conformation with the situation was a sign of weakness at a time when Turkey's accession to the European Union constituted "a serious and unresolved debate".

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu stated the seating order was made according to the arrangements discussed with the European Union. This was denied by the EU's head of protocol Dominique Marro who alleged they were not provided access to the room in question before the meeting. The Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi also lamented the treatment of Von der Leyen stating: "With these dictators — let us call them what they are — one must be frank in expressing one's diversity of views and visions of society",{{Cite web |last1=Miles |first1=Jones |last2=Yackley |first2=Ayla Jean |date=9 April 2021 |title=Draghi angers Turkey by calling Erdogan 'a dictator' |url=https://www.ft.com/content/11a26134-f322-4959-bf27-e6e0e4fd3813 |access-date=2021-04-10 |publisher=Financial Times}}{{Cite news|date=8 April 2021|title=EU-Parlament will "SofaGate"-Vorfall bei Erdoğan-Besuch aufklären|url=https://www.zeit.de/politik/ausland/2021-04/sofagate-eu-parlament-aufklaerung-recep-tayyip-erdogan-ursula-von-der-leyen|access-date=2021-04-10|newspaper=Die Zeit |last1=Luther |first1=Carsten }} while also emphasizing the need of cooperation between Turkey and the European Union. To the "dictator" remark, Ankara responded with the summoning of the Italian ambassador to Turkey.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=9 April 2021 |title=Italiens Regierungschef Draghi beschimpft Erdogan als Diktator |url=https://www.dw.com/de/italiens-regierungschef-draghi-beschimpft-erdogan-als-diktator/a-57139711 |access-date=2021-04-10 |website=Deutsche Welle |language=de-DE}}{{Clarify|date=September 2023}} According to Il Fatto Quotidiano, Turkey suspended the purchase of helicopters from the Italian company Leonardo.{{Cite web |title=La vendetta del "dittatore": bloccati elicotteri per 70 mln |url=https://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/in-edicola/articoli/2021/04/11/la-vendetta-del-dittatore-bloccati-elicotteri-per-70-mln/6162014/ |access-date=2021-04-16 |website=Il Fatto Quotidiano |language=it-IT}} Erdoğan condemned Draghi's "dictator" remark, alleging that Erdoğan is elected, while Draghi is only appointed,{{Cite web|date=14 April 2021|title=Turkey's Erdogan blasted Draghi for calling him a 'dictator'|url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/turkeys-erdogan-blasts-draghi-calling-dictator-77070917|access-date=2021-04-16|website=ABC News|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Turkey's Erdogan slams Italy's Draghi over 'dictator' comment|url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/turkey-s-erdogan-slams-italy-s-draghi-over--dictator--comment/46535766|access-date=2021-04-16|website=Swissinfo|language=en|archive-date=2021-11-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211124080138/https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/turkey-s-erdogan-slams-italy-s-draghi-over--dictator--comment/46535766|url-status=dead}} Draghi said he would not change his statement.{{Cite web|title=Italian PM refuses to issue correction on 'dictator' comment for Erdoğan|url=https://ahvalnews.com/italy-turkey/italian-pm-refuses-issue-correction-dictator-comment-erdogan|access-date=2021-04-16|website=Ahval|language=en}}

• European Union–Turkey relations
• Gender equality
• Order of precedence in the European Union
• Protocol (diplomacy)
• Women rights in Turkey

{{Reflist}}

• {{Cite web |title= Ros Atkins video on sofagate: Turkey and the story of three presidents and only two chairs |author= |work=BBC News |date=9 April 2021 |access-date=10 April 2021 |url= https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-europe-56696618}}
• {{Cite web |title=Gender equality |author= |work=European Commission |date=15 September 2016 |access-date=10 April 2021 |url= https://ec.europa.eu/info/policies/justice-and-fundamental-rights/gender-equality_en}}
• {{Cite web |title=Diplomatic protocol – EURACTIV.com |author= |work=euractiv.com |date= |access-date=10 April 2021 |url= https://www.euractiv.com/topics/diplomatic-protocol/}}
• {{Cite web |title=Protocol Service of the European Commission |work=ec.europa.eu |date=10 April 2021 |access-date=10 April 2021 |url= https://ec.europa.eu/dgs/secretariat_general/corps/index.cfm |language=English}}

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