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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
Lucy Mangan

The art of the politician's kiss

Politicians kiss: Samantha Cameron and Tony Blair, July 2012
Samantha Cameron and Tony Blair, July 2012.

Sam Cam: "Oh, let’s face it – we both go home and kiss worse."
Photograph: Rupert Hartley/Rex Features
Politicians kiss: Harriet Harman, Ed Balls and Ed Miliband, Labour party conference, 2011
Harriet Harman, Ed Balls and Ed Miliband, Labour party conference, 2011.

Ed Miliband: "David? David? I can’t watch this. You can have the job. Take it, take it for Christ’s sake man, before my eyes implode."
Photograph: Eddie Mulholland/Rex Features
Politicians kiss: The Obamas and the Camerons at the White House, March 2012
The Obamas and the Camerons at the White House, March 2012.

Sam Cam: "OMG! If David gets to kiss her that means I get to kiss … OMG, OMG! Just try and stay cool, Sammy girl! Stay cool!"
Photograph: Rex Features
Politicians kiss: Michelle Obama and Gordon Brown, 2009
Michelle Obama and Gordon Brown, 2009.

Brown: "OK, I think I’ve got it now. Grasp arm, lean forward, smile, close eyes, peck. Right, once more with this, Michelle doll, and then I’m good to go."
Photograph: Philippe Wojazer/Reuters
Politicians kiss: Angela Merkel greets Barack Obama, May 2012
Angela Merkel greets Barack Obama, May 2012.

Merkel: "Finally the Germans get to make love, not war."
Photograph: Charles Dharapak/AP
Politicians kiss: Vladimir Putin and Abdelaziz Bouteflika, February 2008
Vladimir Putin and Abdelaziz Bouteflika, February 2008.

Putin: "Mostly I crush puppies. But today, just Algerian presidents. Zdravstvujtye, Abdelaziz Bouteflika!"
Photograph: Sergei Ilnitsky/AFP/Getty Images
Politicians kiss: Putin and Metropolitan Laurus, 2007.
Putin and Metropolitan Laurus, 2007.

Putin: "I like your beard. I will have one of the Spetsnaz skin you later so I can wear it as ornament befitting great Russian leader. I’m kidding, just kidding! I’m not kidding."
Photograph: Dima Korotayev/Epsilon/Getty Images
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