Croatian Foreign Minister Gordan Grlić Radman has faced harsh criticism after he tried to kiss German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on the cheek during an EU meeting.
It was during Thursday that the EU’s foreign ministers gathered in Berlin. When the German foreign minister walks up to take part in a group photo, the Croatian minister greets with a handshake – and leans in for a kiss.
Aroused great criticism
The incident, which was caught on film, has quickly spread widely and has caused both the media and activists to react. The Croatian minister’s behavior has been called inappropriate and accused of being a breach of diplomatic etiquette.
Women’s rights activist Rada Boric told the Jutarnij List newspaper on Friday that the minister’s actions are highly inappropriate. Former Croatian Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor has also directed sharp criticism at Grlić Radman. “Forcing women to kiss is also called violence, isn’t it?”, she writes on the platform X.
Denies allegations
Grlić Radman denies accusations and claims that he only wanted to welcome his colleague in a “humane way” and says that “ministers always welcome each other in a warm way”. However, he admits that it may have been an awkward moment but that he did not realize the gravity of the situation until he saw the video afterwards.
Annalena Baerbock has not yet commented on the incident.