2011 - Laughter with Chancellor Merkel

In October 2011, at the height of the eurozone crisis, Sarkozy is holding a joint press conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Brussels. The two leaders are asked whether they have confidence in the measures that Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi intends to take to tackle the crisis. Sarkozy and Merkel exchange a glance and, before answering, they flash a smile, triggering laughter from the entire press room. This little joke has gone round Europe and in Italy it has provoked bipartisan indignation. Even opposition members condemn the gesture: "Nobody can afford to ridicule Italy," comments Pier Ferdinando Casini. The major newspapers speak of an 'excessive' gesture and Merkel and Sarkozy's laughter becomes the symbol of Italy's loss of credibility in Europe.