During his several-day visit to the Republic of Moldova, Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen tries to achieve political rapprochement. Although President Maia Sandu welcomed this, her dog did not like Van der Bellen’s attempt to get closer. He promptly bit the president on the hand on Thursday.
The incident took place at the president’s residence in the Moldovan capital Chisinau. Television images from Moldovan broadcaster TVR showed the federal president walking across the forecourt with head of state Sandu and his Slovenian counterpart Nataša Pirc Musar.
Dog violated protocol
Maia Sandu accepted her leashed dog Codrut from an employee and petted him. When Van der Bellen also bent down to greet the dog, it suddenly jumped up and grabbed the president’s hand (see below).
Dog became afraid of crowds
But he could immediately laugh about it and appeared to be talking reassuringly to Codrut on the TV images. The Moldovan president immediately apologized in English for her pet. She explained that the four-legged friend became afraid of the large number of people surrounding the head of state trio.
Van der Bellen was apparently slightly injured: his hand was bandaged during his subsequent meeting with Moldovan parliament speaker Igor Grosu.
Later, a photo of her in a good mood with the dog with Van der Bellen and Pirc Musar was published on Maia Sandu’s Instagram page. The presidents pet Codrut, the Austrian president laughs but keeps his distance. However, the Federal President should not hold a grudge. Van der Bellen is known as a dog lover; his dog Juli is regularly seen at his side.
Economic forum opened
At the end of his visit to Moldova, Van der Bellen will open an economic forum together with Sandu. This will be followed by a visit to the State University of Moldova, where the heads of state will exchange views with students on European integration.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
