Spanish PM takes Nicolas Sarkozy for lunch and Twitter goes into meltdown

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy and French ex-president Nicolas Sarkozy spent Monday morning in Madrid discussing issues affecting them both, such as the future of Europe, illegal immigrations and jihadist terrorism. Not much to talk about there.

The moment when the Twittersphere did suddenly have something to say was precisely after Rajoy posted these tweets: “On the way to a traditional Spanish bar with my friend @NicolasSarkozy,” which was soon followed by: “About to have lunch, I’m sure @NicolasSarkozy will take away a good memory of our gastronomy.”

Rajoy took Sarkozy to “an economical place that the prime minister regularly visited when he was leader of the opposition,” explained news agency EFE – to be specific, the Tasca Suprema on Calle Argensola, close to the main headquarters of the PM’s Popular Party in Madrid, where they ordered gazpacho, Russian salad and baby squid. A location and menu where, admittedly, it is strange to find the former leader of the world’s gastronomic capital, but which none of us who have laughed at the jokes and Photoshop montages that started to circulate when the PM published his photo would turn our noses up at. The combination of the look of the place, Rajoy’s comment on Twitter – “About to have lunch, I’m sure @NicolasSarkozy will take away a good memory of our gastronomy” – and the lens used for the shot, which relegates the Frenchman into the corner and enlarges Rajoy’s hand has proved irresistible.

“I think the images shared by the team of @marianorajoy were taken by a @verne photographer. Definite fodder for a meme,” wrote Sergio Rupérez.

Here is a selection of the best efforts. Pay special attention to Sarkozy’s face, the plates and the paintings on the wall…

“When your mother makes you take your cousin out with you because you’re both the same age.”

“Don’t order the croquettes – they’re cooked from frozen.”

“This is the photo they didn’t want us to see.”

“I know it’s not trending any more, but…”

“When you were going to go out as a group but then everyone pulls out at the last minute, except the person you don’t get on with…”

“What you can’t see under the table explains Sarkozy’s expression!”

about verne: In past times, explorers, adventurers and writers scoured the Earth seeking out the wonders of the world. Today, we have the internet. VERNE: a thousand marvels a minute. Click here for more verne stories in English, and here for the Spanish page.