This week Dutch Foreign Minister resigns, Boris Johnson’s credibility declines, and Twitter is awash with bad Valentines!
Dutch Foreign Minister Halbe Zijlstra stepped down on Tuesday, just one day after admitting he lied about attending a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Dutch Foreign Affairs Minister Halbe Zijlstra has resigned, a day after admitting that he lied about attending a meeting hosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin. https://t.co/zveAR4Vhd0
— The Associated Press (@AP) February 13, 2018
Zijlstra claimed that at a 2006 meeting, Putin said he considered Belarus, Ukraine and the Baltic states a “Greater Russia.” This lie became lore, said Glenn Greenwald.
This is the Dutch Foreign Minister who spent years claiming he was in a meeting with Putin where Putin said he "considered Belarus, Ukraine and the Baltic states as part of a ‘Greater Russia.'” It became lore, & it was a lie. https://t.co/7H07wIm9Zz https://t.co/yiyYE0Bns3
— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) February 13, 2018
The resignation means the Netherlands still has its values intact, according to Joseph Barri.
In the Netherlands they still have their values in tact.
Dutch Foreign Minister Resigned Over Lying About A Meeting With Putin https://t.co/FfSOFo2IOu— Joseph Barri (@JoeBarri) February 14, 2018
… unlike you know who.
Alice Stollmeyer though it was good that some politicians still have “the decency to resign over telling a half-truth.”
In the Netherlands, politicians still have the decency to resign over telling a half-truth.
Looking at you, Putin, Erdogan and Trump.https://t.co/PGfGfB82id
— Alice Stollmeyer (@StollmeyerEU) February 13, 2018
Looking at you, Putin, Erdogan and Trump.
Joris Luyendijk saw it as proof that the UK needs another “Glorious Revolution where the Dutch come over to sort them out.”
The Netherlands: a country where the foreign minister has to resign because of his lies. More evidence that the UK needs another #GloriousRevolution where the Dutch come over to sort them out
— Joris Luyendijk (@JORISLUIJENDIJK) February 13, 2018
Wolfgang Blau said Zijlstra’s resignation sets the bar extremely high for Boris Johnson.
Dutch foreign minister quits over having lied.
Setting the bar extremely high for Boris Johnson. https://t.co/Db88El00sU
— Wolfgang Blau (@wblau) February 13, 2018
And on Wednesday Bojo gave a speech trying to convince Remainers and Brexiteers to come together to back Brexit.
Boris Johnson will use his Valentine’s Day speech to call for Leavers and Remainers to unite behind Brexit opportunities https://t.co/X2QTVxypQJ
— Daily Mail U.K. (@DailyMailUK) February 12, 2018
Good luck with that!
That’s like a Labrador with a chewed-up slipper in its mouth telling people not to be upset about dogs destroying stuff.
Getting Boris Johnson to tell Remainers not to fear Brexit is like getting the Labrador to tell people not to be upset about pet dogs destroying possessions. While it has a chewed up slipper in its mouth.
— IBBoard (@IBBoard) February 14, 2018
Johnson said reversing Brexit would be a “disastrous mistake”.
It would be "a disastrous mistake" to try to reverse Brexit, Boris Johnson says https://t.co/PzuqvKwRuD pic.twitter.com/mRd2xsHY8j
— Bloomberg (@business) February 14, 2018
Well, it would be for him, according to Chris Smith. “If Brexit doesn’t happen, Johnson’s political career will be over. He’s hitched himself to a catastrophe,” he said.
There is a very simple truth behind Johnsons speech. If the British people stop Brexit then the political career of Boris Johnson is over. He has his hitched himself to a catastrophe and he is terrified. https://t.co/geMfJqlwOx
— Chris Smith #FBPE (@ledredman) February 14, 2018
As for Johnson’s hope for a “liberal Brexit,” most liberals don’t want Brexit and most Brexiteers aren’t liberal, said Stephen Bush.
The problem with a "liberal Brexit" is that most liberals don't want Brexit and most Brexiteers aren't liberal: https://t.co/VVybrqM0Qu
— Stephen Bush (@stephenkb) February 14, 2018
Matt Turner said Johnson’s speech was all foam and no beer.
Boris Johnson's Brexit speech was all foam and no beer – as predicted.
— Matt Turner (@MattTurner4L) February 14, 2018
John Rain summed up the entire thing in one gif:
That Boris Johnson speech in full. pic.twitter.com/EWnsdb3C3I
— John Rain (@MrKenShabby) February 14, 2018
Finally Wednesday was Valentine’s Day and of course every man and his dog wanted to get in on the action by shoehorning romance into even the most tedious marketing messaging.
But first the winners:
I wanted some glamour
Like Marilyn or Doris
But my Valentine’s Day
Was spent watching Boris, tweeted spoof account Martini Seltzermayr.
I wanted some glamour
Like Marilyn or Doris
But my #ValentinesDay
Will be spent watching Boris— Martini Seltzermayr (@mseltzermayr) February 14, 2018
Following up with:
Brexit is daft
But I’ve found something dafter
Real Donald Trump
Wants to pull out of NAFTA
Brexit is daft
But I’ve found something dafter@realDonaldTrump
Wants to pull out of NAFTA #TradeValentines— Martini Seltzermayr (@mseltzermayr) February 14, 2018
MEP Antanas Guoga said there should be “no borders for love and happiness.”
No borders for #love & #happiness. Not only today but everyday. Happy Valentine’s Day everyone! ?#ValentinesDay2018 #ValentinesDay pic.twitter.com/OY1SfF1Yb8
— Antanas Guoga (@TonyGuoga) February 14, 2018
And as a chocolate lorry arrived outside the Berlaymont, Tom Moylan commented that “someone went all out this year!”
Jeeze – someone went all out this year ? pic.twitter.com/yrWJXd8xTT
— Tom Moylan (@moylato) February 14, 2018
Digital rights group EDRi said: “Roses are red, violets are blue, you have a dating life, your data has too.”
Happy #ValentinesDay! Roses are red, violets are blue, you have a dating life, your data has one, too. <3 Watch the @EU_EDPS' trainees conference "Love at First Swipe" here: https://t.co/cxsOtVsPDQ #DataProtectionActually pic.twitter.com/QJsgPvfHEP
— EDRi (@edri) February 14, 2018
In the same vein, the UK Information Commissioner’s Office also tweeted “We love GDPR because it gives individuals increased rights to access their data” and asked people to tell of their GDPR romance!
We #loveGDPR because it gives individuals increased rights to access their data:
https://t.co/5Ic2aLmGtf Tell us why you #loveGDPR #earlybiz pic.twitter.com/OOpnD3FLGy— ICO (@ICOnews) February 14, 2018
Now, I love the GDPR as much as anyone, but even I think that’s a bit OTT!
Others jumping on the bandwagon include the European Commission,
…because we love:
to be united in diversity
to travel freely
to go on #ErasmusPlus
to roam without charges
the choice to work and live in another EU country
the protection of the environment
peace, solidarity, democracy
…#ValentinesDay pic.twitter.com/jQoLmO2D4X— European Commission ?? (@EU_Commission) February 13, 2018
The European Emergency Numbers Association,
Now, that's the kind of poem we ❤️
On #ValentinesDay we send our love out to emergency services all around Europe. Thank you for your work!
Happy #ValentinesDay2018 pic.twitter.com/4SydfKl1bP
— EENA112 (@112_sos) February 14, 2018
Commissioner Carlos Moedas,
We must shout loud and clear the success of science in Europe; to explain the importance of investing in science and research. We can and we should be proud of European science, today and every day! #ValentinesDay pic.twitter.com/UBOQP0r9tl
— Carlos Moedas (@Moedas) February 14, 2018
DG Environment,
Love is in the air we breathe, the water we drink, the nature we enjoy, the sea & lakes we swim in!
All nature lovers out there: explore our policies on #CleanAirEU #DrinkingWaterEU #PlasticsStrategy #circulareconomy ➡️https://t.co/87ZnO1gOo7 and have a nice #ValentinesDay ? pic.twitter.com/rApurDC077— EU Environment (@EU_ENV) February 14, 2018
who get a special dispensation for their “love is in the air” line.
The European LPG Association,
Impossible not to love it. Happy Valentine's! ❤️#ValentinesDay #LPG #Autogas pic.twitter.com/onsgsQQb0Y
— AEGPL (@AEGPL) February 14, 2018
And so many, many more. But the most cringeworthy award goes to the British Department of Work and Pensions, who thought Valentine’s Day was a great chance to draw attention to benefit fraud!
Claiming to be living alone is one of the most common types of benefit fraud – don’t ruin #ValentinesDay by failing to declare your true circumstances https://t.co/tZuNYZ5fer pic.twitter.com/ahutOO6NUy
— DWP Press Office (@dwppressoffice) February 13, 2018
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— eurelectric (@eurelectric) February 9, 2018
That’s all for this week. Join me again next week for more chuckles, cringes and comebacks in the Brussels Bubble Twittersphere and send in your suggestions using the hashtag #EUTweets.