French president Hollande confuses Japan for China

TOKYO: -- Friday, French President Francois Hollande, who was on a visit in Tokyo, confused his Japanese hosts with the Chinese and called Japan 'China'.

During Friday press conference in Tokyo Hollande, speaking in French, mentioned the January Algerian hostage crisis in which 10 Japanese nationals died and wished to express his deepest condolences.

However, the moment was ruined when Hollanfe had "expressed the condolences of the French people to the Chinese people".

Interestingly, the president made no attempt to correct his mistake.

A female interpreter rendered the sentence as it had been intended, but at least one Japanese journalist with knowledge of French picked up on the error, AFP reported.

Source: http://english.ruvr.ru/news/2013_06_07/French-president-Hollande-confuses-Japan-for-China-5090/

-- THE VOICE OF RUSSIA 2013-2013-06-07

It happens when jetlagged. Had it been PM Yingluck, the abusers would be out in full force.

It happens when jetlagged. Had it been PM Yingluck, the abusers would be out in full force.

Oh at least one was, but his post has been deleted. (Also another one written in the French language).

This is news? Don't we all misspeak ourselves sometimes? I would suspect he knows the difference between Japan and China.

Yeah, jetlag or the job's getting too much for him. Everyone makes a dumb statement on occasion. If we make a lot of small slipups it shows we're not up to the job.

If I were the doctor I'd ask him the difference between Hollandaise and Holland.

Chances are 99.9% he'd know. Probably 100%.

Now if he said he didn't like either, I'd get worried.

Hollande...

*facepalm*

Hollande...

*facepalm*

Francois Hollande being the prez of France, I'd been thinking Holland the country, but thx anyway.

And had I been the doctor, I'd have been French and speaking in French - "Hollande".

As with so many of us, my high school French is awfully rusty.

So let's keep this simple.

The country.

Hollande...

*facepalm*

Francois Hollande being the prez of France, I'd been thinking Holland the country, but thx anyway.

And had I been the doctor, I'd have been French and speaking in French - "Hollande".

As with so many of us, my high school French is awfully rusty.

So let's keep this simple.

The country.

Holland is not a country. The Netherlands is.

Granted, this isn't much of a story, but let's try to stay on the topic .

Hollande...

*facepalm*

Francois Hollande being the prez of France, I'd been thinking Holland the country, but thx anyway.

And had I been the doctor, I'd have been French and speaking in French - "Hollande".

As with so many of us, my high school French is awfully rusty.

So let's keep this simple.

The country.

Holland is not a country. The Netherlands is.

True, it is a province of The Netherlands . . . nasty place - four years working there. Ugh!

Anyway, people in glass houses :

However, the moment was ruined when Hollanfe had "expressed the condolences of the French people to the Chinese people".

the point is, Hollande is a total muppet.

the point is, Hollande is a total muppet.

If that's the point then it would be easy for you to explain why . . . unless you find this 'transgression' to prove your point . . . in which case . . .

the point is, Hollande is a total muppet.

They are all muppets

Shit happens, wait . . . Is there a difference?

It happens when jetlagged. Had it been PM Yingluck, the abusers would be out in full force.

Thank goodness it wasn't an American president or this topic would be at 10 pages by now!

the point is, Hollande is a total muppet.

They are all muppets

I kinda like Holland. Are the Chinese somehow better? Haha, what is their contribution? Over population, communism, cheap products that break and IP theft. They also treat their population great! Has China provided the world anything better than Heniken beer?

Japan has reason to be annoyed, but China should be flattered.

Seriously, who f cares.

Edited June 8, 201313 yr by F430murci

I kinda like Holland. Are the Chinese somehow better? Haha, what is their contribution? Over population, communism, cheap products that break and IP theft. They also treat their population great! Has China provided the world anything better than Heniken beer?

Japan has reason to be annoyed, but China should be flattered.

Seriously, who f cares.

???

Same Same, but different...

Off-topic posts and replies have been deleted.

He is a working man. He is reading a script, written by a speech writer. How the hell is he expected to know where he is?

Or what he's talking about.

If they're serving rice wine instead of Chateau Neuf du Pap, what does he care? Its a lot stronger.

They did win the Rugby once didn't they?

Granted, this isn't much of a story, but let's try to stay on the topic .

Ha Ha easy day today, a bit of 'froggie' bashing instead of the usual. Makes a change.

Hollande...

*facepalm*

Francois Hollande being the prez of France, I'd been thinking Holland the country, but thx anyway.

And had I been the doctor, I'd have been French and speaking in French - "Hollande".

As with so many of us, my high school French is awfully rusty.

So let's keep this simple.

The country.

Holland is not a country. The Netherlands is.

I know - calm down.

And you know in English we use the two names interchangeably. You would also know in French it's "Hollande,"

In neither language is it "The Kingdom of the Netherlands" with its Caribbean island nations and all else.

I'd suggested we keep this simple, i.e., not get esoteric about it.

So I've said my final piece on this.

In fact, we need to quit this altogether.

Off-topic posts deleted.

It happens when jetlagged. Had it been PM Yingluck, the abusers would be out in full force.

George Bush tried that one, he was permanently jet-lagged.

Hollande...

*facepalm*

Francois Hollande being the prez of France, I'd been thinking Holland the country, but thx anyway.

And had I been the doctor, I'd have been French and speaking in French - "Hollande".

As with so many of us, my high school French is awfully rusty.

So let's keep this simple.

The country.

Holland is not a country. The Netherlands is.

that would be Pays-Bas then

I kinda like Holland. Are the Chinese somehow better? Haha, what is their contribution? Over population, communism, cheap products that break and IP theft. They also treat their population great! Has China provided the world anything better than Heniken beer?

Japan has reason to be annoyed, but China should be flattered.

Seriously, who f cares.

???

Oh my! Haha, this is what happens when wife leaves country and I post between bars. Could have sworn it had something to do with Holland and people from Holland being Muppets or something or another . . . At least the French gave us Steak Au Poivre. Henis go great with that!

I kinda like Holland. Are the Chinese somehow better? Haha, what is their contribution? Over population, communism, cheap products that break and IP theft. They also treat their population great! Has China provided the world anything better than Heniken beer?

Japan has reason to be annoyed, but China should be flattered.

Seriously, who f cares.

???

Oh my! Haha, this is what happens when wife leaves country and I post between bars. Could have sworn it had something to do with Holland and people from Holland being Muppets or something or another . . . At least the French gave us Steak Au Poivre. Henis go great with that!

Our distinguished fellow poster, a member of the bar.

Bars.

Pub: the heck with being distinguished! Haha, sing always calls me out when I post something nonsensical while under the influence. Another day in paradise, gotta be 5 somewhere!

ha ha the extinguished gentleman! Well, our TVF guy.

Those few at TVF I've me personally don't call me Pub for nothin' - that was our rendezvous meeting point, a pub, every time

Although you and I haven't met personally, you picked up on it right off - the Pub part.

Pub: the heck with being distinguished! Haha, sing always calls me out when I post something nonsensical while under the influence. Another day in paradise, gotta be 5 somewhere!

I plan my day around searching for your posts