Draghi refused to fix 'dictator' statement about Erdoğan: Italian press

Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi refused to amend his statement that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is a dictator, BBC Turkish quoted the Italian press as saying. Draghi had said that Erdoğan humiliated European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during her visit to Ankara and that it was important to be frank with "dictators," drawing condemnation from Ankara.

Friday April 16 2021 10:07 am

Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi meets journalists, in Rome, Italy, March 26, 2021.

Duvar English - Reuters

Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi reportedly has refused to back down from his April 8 statement that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was a dictator, the BBC's Turkish service reported on April 16.

Draghi used the term "dictator" after Erdoğan came under severe criticism over sofagate, a seating crisis that emerged on April 6.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was forced to sit on a sofa during a meeting in Ankara on April 6 as President Erdoğan and European Council President Charles Michel sat in stately chairs.

Michel was condemned internationally for stealing a seat from under von der Leyen, with women's organizations even calling for his resignation, and President Erdoğan was slammed for setting up an obviously misogynistic seating arrangement for the meeting.

Draghi had said that Erdoğan humiliated von der Leyen during her visit to Ankara and that it was important to be frank with "dictators," drawing condemnation from Ankara.

Former Italian Ambassador to Ankara, Luigi Mattiolo reportedly urged Draghi to amend his statement, but that "Draghi immediately turned it down by saying he would 'not fix anything.'"

In his first public comment on the matter, Erdoğan said that Draghi had damaged relations between Turkey and Italy, and suggested the Italian premier lacked the democratic legitimacy to make such criticism.

"The statement made by the Italian prime minister is total impertinence and disrespect," Erdoğan said. "At a time when we hoped Turkey-Italy ties could reach a good point, by making this statement, this man named Draghi has unfortunately torpedoed the ties between us," he said on April 14.

Former Italian Ambassador to Ankara, Luigi Mattiolo reportedly urged Draghi to amend his statement, but that "Draghi immediately turned it down by saying he would 'not fix anything.'"

Italian daily La Stampa reported shortly after that Erdoğan had allowed Draghi a week to amend his statement, but that the prime minister remained silent, embarrassing Italian diplomacy.

"Rome has chosen to remain silent for now. This 'no comment' stance aims to de-escalate tensions," Italian daily La Republica reported.