Croatian foreign PM awkwardly tries to kiss German counterpart, shrugs off ensuing backlash

Croatia’s foreign prime minister sparked controversy after he was caught awkwardly trying to kiss his German counterpart during a group photo Thursday.

Gordan Grlic Radman, 65, simultaneously reached out to shake Annalena Baerbock’s hand and leaned in for her lips during a photo shoot for the European Union conference in Berlin.

Baerbock, 42, politely offered Grlic Radman her cheek and turned straight toward the cameras before uncomfortably giggling, video of the cringey encounter shows.

After the photo shoot ends, Baerbock takes a step away from Grlic Radman and turns to talk to someone behind him, while the Croatian politician keeps his eyes glued on her.

None of the other dozens of foreign chiefs seemed phased by the kiss, but prominent leaders and social media users sounded off, calling Grlic Radman’s actions shameful.

Prominent Croatian women’s rights activist Rada Boric slammed the minister’s move as “highly inappropriate,” adding that “warm greetings” were out of place for the professional relationship.

“It’s clear that such a relationship doesn’t exist here and that the (German) minister was left surprised with such closeness,” Boric told local outlet Jutarnji List.

None of the other dozens of foreign chiefs seemed phased by the kiss, but prominent leaders and social media users sounded off, calling Grlic Radman’s actions shameful.AFP via Getty Images

Former Croatian Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor slammed Grlic Radman in a post on X, without directly mentioning his name or the incident itself.

“Kissing women violently is also called violence, isn’t it?” she wrote.

Other local outlets blasted the incident as “sexual harassment.”

Grlic Radman shrugged off the criticism, claiming he was only trying to greet his counterpart.

After the photo shoot ends, Baerbock takes a step away from Grlic Radman and turns to talk to someone behind him, while the Croatian politician keeps his eyes glued on her.AFP via Getty Images

“I don’t know what the problem was … We always greet each other warmly. It is a warm human approach to a colleague,” he told reporters according to Barron’s.

Baerbock has not commented on the uncomfortable display of affection, but those around her reportedly said Grlic Radman had been late to the photo shoot and yet to say his hellos to the German foreign minister.

The kiss was only a “clumsy attempt to quickly greet each other,” insiders told German outlet Bild.

Grlic Radman and Belgium Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib attend an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in Toledo, Spain on Aug. 31, 2023.REUTERS

The incident comes just months after Spain’s head of soccer Luis Rubiales received severe backlash for kissing player Jenni Hermoso on the lips during the Women’s World Cup ceremony, which she later said she was uncomfortable with.

Rubiales initially defended the smooch before apologizing publicly and ultimately resigning.