During a plenary meeting at the European Parliament on Wednesday, an unexpected interruption added a touch of humor to the proceedings. Following a speech by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the distinct sound of a dog‘s barking echoed through the hemicycle, momentarily perplexing lawmakers, including Renew Europe group Chair Stéphane Séjourné and the European People’s Party’s Dolors Montserrat.
The unexpected canine contribution drew amused reactions, with European Parliament President Roberta Metsola breaking into laughter and suggesting, “Dear colleagues, we must have a support animal in the house.” The timing of the barks, occurring during the session attended by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, added an extra layer of absurdity. In Spain, Sánchez is playfully nicknamed “Perro Sanxe” or “Sánchez the dog,” emphasizing his tenacious, underdog qualities.
Despite the unexpected interruption, Sánchez could be seen grinning, even as the dog’s barks briefly interrupted a speech by European People’s Party’s President Manfred Weber, who attempted to criticize the Spanish leader for his dealings with Catalan separatists. Socialist MEP Eider Gardiazabal Rubial playfully suggested that the barking dog, reportedly belonging to a visually impaired visitor, had expressed its feelings at just the right moment.
