All heads of state are ready for the photo – except Boris and Justin, they take their time …
Like two little schoolboys, Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (49) and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson (57) came late for the group photo of the G20 countries in Rome (Italy) on Saturday morning.
While the other heads of government from Chancellor Angela Merkel (67, CDU) to US President Joe Biden (78) smile at the cameras from the lavender blue pedestal or talk, there is no trace of Trudeau and Johnson.
Holland’s Prime Minister Mark Rutte (54) is already looking around nervously because the space to his left is free. Then he spots Trudeau. With a “Justin!” And a courageous wave he calls the Canadians over. Host Mario Draghi (74) also noticed that two were missing for his class photo. “Boris!” Shouts the Italian head of state to his British colleague and claps his hands.
The heads of state at the G20 summit in RomePhoto: ERIN SCHAFF / AFP
Obviously embarrassed, Trudeau and Johnson step onto the podium and are greeted by French President Emmanuel Macron (43) with a broad grin and a handshake. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (63) also thinks it’s funny.
After all: the late comers didn’t need a gym bag for the class photo.
China’s President Xi Jinping (63) and Russia’s Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (69) were also missing from the photo. The two did not want to travel to the summit in Rome because of the corona pandemic, but are taking part digitally.
Full schedule in Rome
Delays are particularly bad now, at the first personal meeting of the G20 leaders since the pandemic, because: The summit in Rome is well-timed, the list of topics is long. On Saturday, the global economy, the fight against the corona pandemic and the promotion of women-run companies are on the agenda. On Sunday everything revolves around the fight against climate change.
Merkel also met Johnson, Macron and Biden in Rome for talks about the nuclear deal with Iran – Olaf Scholz (still) has to sit in the second row at the meetingPhoto: @ MatthiasDeiss / Twitter
Chancellor Merkel took her finance minister and likely successor, Olaf Scholz (63, SPD), to Rome. In terms of protocol, however, everything was as always at the G20 summits: Merkel sat at the oval negotiating table with the heads of state and government, the finance ministers and thus Scholz took their places behind it at individual tables. On Saturday afternoon, the two wanted to meet with US President Joe Biden, who is attending a G20 face-to-face summit for the first time.
Merkel, Macron, Johnson and Biden also discussed off the official agenda how they can prevent Iran from producing nuclear weapons. The Islamist regime in Tehran had recently made great strides.