A tricky start to the year

摘要

It was probably the defining snapshot of Danish politics in 2013: at Nelson Mandela's memorial service, the country's prime minister, Helle Thorning-Schmidt, snapped a "selfie" with Barack Obama, the American president, and David Cameron, the British prime minister. The image went immediately viral on the internet. For the three political leaders and their fans it was a moment of harmless fun. For their detractors it was proof of unbecoming frivolity on a solemn occasion. Like any seasoned politician, Ms Thorning-Schmidt took the criticism in her stride and contrived to put a positive spin on the event. The mood was convivial and informal, she told Danish state television afterwards, and a friendly relationship with the American president was only an advantage. "It would have been a problem for Denmark had I sat ramrod straight for three hours and never exchanged a word with President Obama," she said.