Turkish First Lady or Madonna; Who Caused Brussels' Worst Traffic Nightmare?

The Turkish First Lady's visit caused a heavy traffic jam so bad, that many Belgian citizens thought the American performer and actress Madonna was once aging visiting their city.

Former Turkish First Lady, Emine Erdoğan Photo courtesy: todayszaman.com

(SALEM, Ore.) - In his recent to Europe to muster Turkish voters' support is the green continent, the Turkish beleaguered President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his wife paid a state visit to Belgium where Turkish First Lady, Emine Erdoğan , began a five-hour shopping spree in the luxury malls of Brussels, namely the prestigious Long Champs shopping center in the city's downtown.

According to the Ülkede Değişim news website, Emine Erdoğan's prodigal lifestyle drew Turkish public ire as Turkey is grappling with the deep recession which hit the country within the current fiscal year.

The Turkish First Lady's visit to Long Champs – situated in the Avenue Louise, a major tourist hub and thoroughfare in Brussels–accompanied by her semi-royal entourage caused a heavy traffic jam, so bad that many Belgian citizens thought the American performer and actress Madonna was once aging visiting their city.

In an ostentatious display of tyranny and wealth, Emine Erdoğan's security team closed the shopping center's doors on other customers and when confronted with the mall manager's angry objection, the Turkish security officer promised that the shop will be fully compensated for the loss.

That evening, President Erdoğan himself joined the First Lady and both went for a stroll. Later they held a sumptuous banquet in the nearby elegant restaurant, Condé Nast Traveller.

La Capitale, a Belgian daily newspaper, criticized Emine Erdoğan who bough flamboyant clothes and souvenirs from Brussels' expensive boutiques where the cheapest commodity is no less than €650 - in a time when the majority of Turkish people suffer from the most unprecedented financial crisis in decades.

Meanwhile, the Turkish trade union lambasted the First Lady for ignoring Turkey's home-made products in spite of the fact that Turkey, itself, is supplying the European market with its high-quality apparel and textiles.