{"id":1949136,"date":"2026-05-22T09:35:02","date_gmt":"2026-05-22T06:35:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1949136"},"modified":"2026-05-22T09:35:02","modified_gmt":"2026-05-22T06:35:02","slug":"fact-check-no-claqueurs-did-not-applaud-merkel-at-european-parliament","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1949136","title":{"rendered":"Fact-check: No, &#8216;claqueurs&#8217; did not applaud Merkel at European Parliament"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/76\/60\/47\/1200x675_cmsv2_8d9ca308-2980-5a0f-beb7-8e71383ec8d5-9766047.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2895781-pos1-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2895781\" data-cid=\"9768999\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2895781-label-pos1-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/76\/89\/99\/189x106_cmsv2_d8649914-314b-53ae-b0b8-42337e33eeca-9768999.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"There was a net gain of just 154 air routes across Europe in 2025\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Travel News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    EU air connectivity \u2018flatlined\u2019 in 2025, with route numbers growing 1%\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2895697-pos2-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2895697\" data-cid=\"9768778\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2895697-label-pos2-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/76\/85\/17\/189x106_cmsv2_8b37c58b-ccd4-5558-bb67-e39003b8bfa7-9768517.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Iran, war in the Strait of Hormuz\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Iran<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Iran asserts jurisdiction over UAE and Oman waters in new Hormuz map\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2895738-pos3-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2895738\" data-cid=\"9768777\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2895738-label-pos3-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/76\/60\/45\/189x106_cmsv2_9f600869-7331-50bf-8611-239000cb924d-9766045.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"A woman wearing U.S. flag motif pants walks past a building that houses an art installation on the Cuban Revolution\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Cuba<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    How Cubans feel about the US indictment of Ra\u00fal Castro\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2895729-pos4-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2895729\" data-cid=\"9768694\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2895729-label-pos4-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/76\/86\/94\/189x106_cmsv2_f6fb81aa-2ff1-54db-a03a-c5568746ac84-9768694.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"SpaceX's mega rocket Starship is prepared for a test flight that was later delayed, in Starbase, Texas, Thursday, May 21, 2026. \" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Tech News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    High-stakes SpaceX rocket launch delayed due to mechanical woes\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2895781-pos1-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2\" data-nid=\"2895781\" data-cid=\"9768999\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2895781-label-pos1-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/76\/89\/99\/189x106_cmsv2_d8649914-314b-53ae-b0b8-42337e33eeca-9768999.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"There was a net gain of just 154 air routes across Europe in 2025\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Travel News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    EU air connectivity \u2018flatlined\u2019 in 2025, with route numbers growing 1%\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2895697-pos2-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2\" data-nid=\"2895697\" data-cid=\"9768778\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2895697-label-pos2-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/76\/85\/17\/189x106_cmsv2_8b37c58b-ccd4-5558-bb67-e39003b8bfa7-9768517.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Iran, war in the Strait of Hormuz\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Iran<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Iran asserts jurisdiction over UAE and Oman waters in new Hormuz map\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2895738-pos3-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2895738\" data-cid=\"9768777\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2895738-label-pos3-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/76\/60\/45\/189x106_cmsv2_9f600869-7331-50bf-8611-239000cb924d-9766045.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"A woman wearing U.S. flag motif pants walks past a building that houses an art installation on the Cuban Revolution\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Cuba<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    How Cubans feel about the US indictment of Ra\u00fal Castro\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2895729-pos4-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2\" data-nid=\"2895729\" data-cid=\"9768694\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2895729-label-pos4-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/76\/86\/94\/189x106_cmsv2_f6fb81aa-2ff1-54db-a03a-c5568746ac84-9768694.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"SpaceX's mega rocket Starship is prepared for a test flight that was later delayed, in Starbase, Texas, Thursday, May 21, 2026. \" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Tech News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    High-stakes SpaceX rocket launch delayed due to mechanical woes\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"helper-site-row o-article-newsy\">\n<div class=\"helper-site-container o-article-newsy__container\">\n<div class=\"o-article-newsy__main\">\n<header class=\"h-grid o-article-newsy__main__header\">\n<nav aria-label=\"Breadcrumbs\" class=\"c-article-breadcrumbs\">\n<div id=\"adb-article-breadcrumb\" class=\"c-article-breadcrumbs__list\">\n<p>                          Europe<\/p>\n<p>                          Europe Decoded<\/p>\n<p>                          The Cube<\/p><\/div>\n<\/nav>\n<h1 class=\"c-article-redesign-title\">\n                            Fact-check: No, &#8216;claqueurs&#8217; did not applaud Merkel at European Parliament<\/h1>\n<div class=\"c-article-image-video u-position-relative \">\n<div class=\"js-superdiv u-aspect-ratio-16x9 u-position-relative \" data-sponsored=\"Partner content\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"js-poster-img c-article-media__img\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/76\/60\/47\/1536x864_cmsv2_8d9ca308-2980-5a0f-beb7-8e71383ec8d5-9766047.jpg\" width=\"1536\" height=\"864\" loading=\"eager\" alt=\"Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, center, delivers a speech after receiving the European Order of Merit, Tuesday May 19, 2026.  \"><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-caption u-position-absolute\"><i id=\"article-caption-content\" class=\"c-article-caption__content\"><span class=\"c-article-caption__text\"><br \/>\n              Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, center, delivers a speech after receiving the European Order of Merit, Tuesday May 19, 2026.<br \/>\n                    <span class=\"u-color-white\">&#8211;\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"c-article-caption__copyright\">Copyright\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"c-article-caption__credit\">AP Photo<\/span><\/span><\/i><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-image-copyright c-article-image-copyright--novideo\">\n      Copyright\u00a0AP Photo\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"h-grid o-article-newsy__main__body u-article-content\">\n<div class=\"o-article-newsy__contributors-publication-date\">\n<div class=\"c-article-contributors\">\n  By&amp;nbspTamsin Paternoster&amp;nbsp&amp;&amp;nbspEstelle Nilsson-Julien\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-publication-date\" data-timestamp=\"1779442502\">\n                    Published on                 <time datetime=\"2026-05-22 11:35:02 +02:00\">22\/05\/2026 &#8211; 11:35 GMT+2<\/time><span class=\"c-article-publication-date__bullet\">\u2022<\/span>Updated<br \/>\n                                     <time datetime=\"13:00\">13:00<\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-partage-commentaire u-align-items-center u-display-flex\"><span class=\"c-article-partage-commentaire__links u-align-items-center u-display-flex u-justify-content-center js-c-article-partage-commentaire-share\"><span>Share<\/span><\/span><span>Comments<\/span><\/div>\n<div 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loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"c-article-summary\">\n        Some MEPs and online users claimed that guests who attended and applauded former German Chancellor Angela Merkel during a ceremony at the European Parliament were staged attendees. They weren\u2019t.<br \/>\n    <\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-article-content js-article-content\">\n<p>Several MEPs and social media users have falsely claimed that &#8220;claqueurs&#8221; were brought in to support Germany&#8217;s former Chancellor Angela Merkel, as she received the European Order of Merit award at the European Parliament in Strasbourg on 19 May.<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt loading=\"lazy\"><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt loading=\"lazy\"><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>This newly created prize aims to honour individuals who have contributed to &#8220;European integration&#8221;, along with the values enshrined in the EU treaties, according to the European Parliament. <\/p>\n<p>But several MEPs alleged that the additional non-MEP attendees in the chamber were &#8220;extras&#8221;, &#8220;random types&#8221; or &#8220;claqueurs&#8221;, while others suggested the applause had been staged while Merkel received the &#8220;European Order of Merit.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>For instance, German MEP Tomasz Froelich, an AfD member part of the Europe of Sovereign Nations Group, said in a post shared on 19 May that &#8220;claqueurs&#8221; were &#8220;placed in the seats of our deputies, against all parliamentary customs. Madness!&#8221;<\/p>\n<h2>What really happened?<\/h2>\n<p>Footage from the ceremony shows that seats typically occupied by the far-right Patriots for Europe group remained largely empty for parts of the event \u2014 due to a boycott by a number of MEPs. <\/p>\n<p>Members of Italy&#8217;s populist right-wing Lega party said they instead joined a demonstration organised by Italian farmers against the Mercosur trade agreement. <\/p>\n<p>Others, including Finnish MEP Sebastian Tynkkynen \u2014 from the European Conservatives and Reformists Group (ECR) \u2014 said they left the chamber in protest. Taking to X, he claimed that &#8220;the EU machinery started bringing random types to the seats of the elected politicians&#8221;, in a post shared on 19 May. <\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.5625\">\n<div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n<div class=\"widget__contents\">\n<figure class=\"widget__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/76\/60\/47\/808x454_cmsv2_4b95788a-0d89-504a-b684-c9e496700bab-9766047.jpg\" alt=\"Posts claim that attendees in the European Parliament were hired or random are false. \"><figcaption class=\"widget__caption\"><span class=\"widget__captionWrap\"><span class=\"widget__captionText\">Posts claim that attendees in the European Parliament were hired or random are false. <\/span><span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">@SebastianTyne, @FabioDeMasi, @TomaszFroelich<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>However, claims that the European Parliament hired &#8220;claqueurs&#8221; or brought in &#8220;random people&#8221; to applaud Merkel are false. <\/p>\n<p>A spokesperson for the European Parliament told Euronews that the plenary sitting had been officially suspended for the duration of the ceremony &#8211; meaning that guests, including laureates, family members and staff who were involved in organising the event, were allowed to enter the chamber. <\/p>\n<p>The parliament also said that, as is customary during such events, MEPs who wished to attend maintained priority seating in the room. <\/p>\n<p>European Parliament President Roberta Metsola later repeated this explanation in the following plenary session, telling the crowd. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cYesterday, you were aware that the session was suspended by agreement for the duration of the Order of Merit Conferral Ceremony,&#8221; she said. &#8220;This allowed for guests to enter the Chamber, including the laureates, who would have otherwise not been allowed to come in, their families and some staff members who worked on the event.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>There is therefore no evidence that non-MEP attendees were planted attendees or instructed to stage applause for Merkel, with the online claims misrepresenting standard arrangements during a suspended parliamentary sitting.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>                                  Go to accessibility shortcuts<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-article-partage-commentaire u-align-items-center u-display-flex\"><span class=\"c-article-partage-commentaire__links u-align-items-center u-display-flex u-justify-content-center js-c-article-partage-commentaire-share\"><span>Share<\/span><\/span><span>Comments<\/span><\/div>\n<div id=\"adb-article-you-might-also-like\" class=\"perf-cv-auto c-article-you-might-also-like\">\n<h2 class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__title\">\n        Read more<br \/>\n      <\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n<p>                  Merkel warns Europe can no longer rely on old security certainties<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n<p>                  EU honours Merkel as her legacy on migration, Russia remains deeply divisive<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n<p>                  Fact-check: No, &#8216;claqueurs&#8217; did not applaud Merkel at European Parliament<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"perf-cv-auto\">\n<ul id=\"adb-article-tags\" class=\"c-tags-list\">\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Strasbourg<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  European Parliament<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  MEP<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  TheCube<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Angela Merkel<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"o-article-newsy__aside\">\n<div class=\"c-ad-wrapper o-article-newsy__aside__content-1\" data-ad-name=\"adzone-halfpage\">\n<div class=\"c-ad c-ad-halfpage u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"adb-article-top-stories\" class=\"perf-cv-auto c-top-stories\">\n<h2 class=\"c-top-stories__title\">Top stories<\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2895633-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2895633\" data-cid=\"9768146\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2895633-label-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/76\/81\/46\/320x180_cmsv2_335a983a-ad0b-54fc-97d2-bde2c53d3e1e-9768146.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Valdis Dombrovskis, EU COmmissioner for Economy and Productivity\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    EU \u2018should not\u2019 look to Russia for energy relief, Dombrovskis says<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2895688-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2895688\" data-cid=\"9768737\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2895688-label-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/76\/84\/71\/320x180_cmsv2_c29e0c0e-23db-566e-9743-fcfcb648f979-9768471.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Portugal and France in shock: what is known about the case of the abandoned children?\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    The shocking case of the abandoned children: what we know<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2895663-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2895663\" data-cid=\"9768537\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2895663-label-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/76\/83\/50\/320x180_cmsv2_16e2ce7c-8415-5acd-a2b7-b58bce2fe1c6-9768350.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"President Donald Trump takes part in an event devoted to easing federal regulations on refrigerants in the Oval Office of the White House, 21 May 2026\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    More US troops in Poland &#8211; 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Agatha Christie&#8217;s Poirot is getting a reboot<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2895164-pos2-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2895164\" data-cid=\"9765542\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Winners and losers: Real household income growth across Europe in 2025<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2895495-pos3-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2895495\" data-cid=\"9767440\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    &#8216;No way out&#8217;: Divers who died in the Maldives may have got lost<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2895370-pos4-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2895370\" data-cid=\"9766793\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Mother arrested after French boys abandoned in Portugal, police say<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2895330-pos5-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2895330\" data-cid=\"9766562\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Which European countries hand the most income to the ultra-rich?<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"articleBody\" data-key=\"articleBody\">Several MEPs and social media users have falsely claimed that &#8220;claqueurs&#8221; were brought in to support Germany&#8217;s former Chancellor Angela Merkel, as she received the European Order of Merit award at the European Parliament in Strasbourg on 19 May.This newly created prize aims to honour individuals who have contributed to &#8220;European integration&#8221;, along with the values enshrined in the EU treaties, according to the European Parliament.But several MEPs alleged that the additional non-MEP attendees in the chamber were &#8220;extras&#8221;, &#8220;random types&#8221; or &#8220;claqueurs&#8221;, while others suggested the applause had been staged while Merkel received the &#8220;European Order of Merit.&#8221;For instance, German MEP Tomasz Froelich, an AfD member part of the Europe of Sovereign Nations Group, said in a post shared on 19 May that &#8220;claqueurs&#8221; were &#8220;placed in the seats of our deputies, against all parliamentary customs. Madness!&#8221;What really happened?Footage from the ceremony shows that seats typically occupied by the far-right Patriots for Europe group remained largely empty for parts of the event \u2014 due to a boycott by a number of MEPs.Members of Italy&#8217;s populist right-wing Lega party said they instead joined a demonstration organised by Italian farmers against the Mercosur trade agreement.Others, including Finnish MEP Sebastian Tynkkynen \u2014 from the European Conservatives and Reformists Group (ECR) \u2014 said they left the chamber in protest. Taking to X, he claimed that &#8220;the EU machinery started bringing random types to the seats of the elected politicians&#8221;, in a post shared on 19 May.However, claims that the European Parliament hired &#8220;claqueurs&#8221; or brought in &#8220;random people&#8221; to applaud Merkel are false.A spokesperson for the European Parliament told Euronews that the plenary sitting had been officially suspended for the duration of the ceremony &#8211; meaning that guests, including laureates, family members and staff who were involved in organising the event, were allowed to enter the chamber.The parliament also said that, as is customary during such events, MEPs who wished to attend maintained priority seating in the room.European Parliament President Roberta Metsola later repeated this explanation in the following plenary session, telling the crowd.\u201cYesterday, you were aware that the session was suspended by agreement for the duration of the Order of Merit Conferral Ceremony,&#8221; she said. &#8220;This allowed for guests to enter the Chamber, including the laureates, who would have otherwise not been allowed to come in, their families and some staff members who worked on the event.&#8221;There is therefore no evidence that non-MEP attendees were planted attendees or instructed to stage applause for Merkel, with the online claims misrepresenting standard arrangements during a suspended parliamentary sitting.<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/my-europe\/2026\/05\/22\/fact-check-no-claqueurs-did-not-applaud-merkel-at-european-parliament&#8221;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/76\/60\/47\/1200x675_cmsv2_8d9ca308-2980-5a0f-beb7-8e71383ec8d5-9766047.jpg&#8221;] Travel News EU air connectivity \u2018flatlined\u2019 in 2025, with route numbers growing 1% Iran Iran asserts jurisdiction over UAE and Oman waters in new Hormuz map Cuba How Cubans feel about the US indictment of Ra\u00fal Castro Tech News High-stakes SpaceX rocket launch delayed due to mechanical woes Travel News EU air [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[90],"tags":[226,36],"class_list":["post-1949136","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-international","tag-crawlmanager","tag-euronews-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1949136","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1949136"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1949136\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1949136"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1949136"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1949136"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}