EU denies 'insulting' claim Jean-Claude Juncker was drunk at NATO summit
Get link
Facebook
X
Pinterest
Email
Other Apps
-
The European Commission president was unsteady on his feet after suffering a "painful attack of sciatica", a spokesman says.
0:27
Video:EU denies Juncker was drunk at NATO summit
The EU has denied "insulting" suggestions that European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker was drunk at this week's NATO summit, saying he was suffering from sciatica.
The 63-year-old was seen to be unsteady on his feet at the summit dinner in Brussels on Wednesday evening, and had to be helped away in a wheelchair.
The prime ministers of the Netherlands and Portugal, Mark Rutte and Antonio Costa, helped prop him up.
Commission spokesman Margaritis Schinas said it was "more than tasteless" for the press to write "insulting headlines by exploiting President Juncker's pain".
"I don't think this is elegant and I don't think this is fair," he added.
Asked whether Mr Juncker had mixed painkillers and alcohol, Mr Schinas replied: "No he didn't - at least I am not aware of this happening."
The president had suffered a "very particularly painful attack of sciatica accompanied by cramps," Mr Schinas said.
"The president has himself publicly stated that this sciatica affects his ability to walk," he continued.
"That was unfortunately the case Wednesday night.
"He is taking medication and feels better."
Sciatica occurs when the sciatic nerve, which runs from the hips to the feet, is irritated.
Mr Juncker carried out a "full programme" at NATO and the European Commission on Thursday, Mr Schinas said, and will stick to a "very demanding agenda" next week, including a trip to China and Japan.
The German government weighed in on Friday, with spokesman Steffen Seibert saying Berlin has a "very high level of confidence" in the Commission president.
Mr Juncker, whose five-year term at the head of the commission ends next year, has faced questions before about his public demeanour.
Basketball is one of the most popular sports here in America and the professional NBA players are some of the wealthiest among our sports players. The National Basketball Association has produced some big names in the sport, with Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson probably being the two most recognized names of all-time. NBA players come in all shapes, sizes and with variable degrees of talent, but one thing is for sure, the top 20 players in the history of the sport, have created a substantial net worth that the rest of us can only dream of. If you have ever wondered who rank in the leaderboards for being on top in basketball when it comes to wealth, keep reading to find out who the top 20 richest NBA players of all-time are. 20. Amare Stoudemire – $95 Million Born in 1982, the 6 foot, 10 inches tall, Amare Stoudemire, and played basketball for the Phoenix Suns, New York Nicks earlier in his career before ending his NBA journey with the Dallas Mavericks and Miam...
Microsoft Nigeria, in collaboration with Sidmach Technologies, held an event tagged 'Digital Transformation in Education' on Friday, June 29 to empower schools in Nigeria on world-class technological innovations that can aid effective management. The event which held at Radisson Blu, Ikeja GRA, Lagos, offered Proprietors, Principals, Head Teachers, IT Directors and other high level school administrators, first hand encounter with Microsoft's Imagine Academy, Sidmach's Smart School solution and SEAMs. Educations Program Manager, Microsoft Nigeria, Ms. Jordan Belmonte, introduced Microsoft’s "Imagine Academy" - an IT package with over 700 courses including data and computer science, IT infrastructure to enhance productivity in schools. According to her, the package will aid learning and prepare schools for a digital literacy curriculum. While explaining how technology can be utilized, Jordan said, "It is good that we have technology ...
California rapper, YG has been arrested on a felony robbery charge after allegedly stealing a gold chain from a fan’s neck and taking off with the diamond-laced pendant at a Las Vegas casino. The 28-year-old rapper whose real is Keenon Daequan Ray Jackson was in a Vegas court Thursday after a warrant was issued for his arrest and he turned himself in. He was charged with felony robbery and he was released after posting $20k bail. The incident reportedly occurred in late May at the Cosmopolitan around 4 AM, after a man approached YG and asked for a photo with him but was turned away by his crew. It was also alleged that the dejected fan called YG a fake celebrity, in retaliation, YG instructed his crew to “Get him,” before yanking the chain and a diamond-laced pendant from his neck. The incident was captured in the casino's surveillance footage. The alleged victim is also suing YG, claiming that his crew pounced on him ...
Comments