Penny Wong’s South Australian chocolate gift to Swiss politician rejected

Watch the moment the Foreign Affairs Minister refused to give up after her present was initially rejected.

Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong declared a “diplomatic upset” would occur between Australia and Switzerland after her gift was rejected by a Swiss politician.

In a video posted to the South Australian Senator’s Instagram account, she’s seen trying to give the Swiss Foreign Minister, Ignazio Cassis, a gift of Haigh’s chocolate.

“These are chocolates from my hometown,” Senator Wong said.

“This is a company called Haigh’s. And in fact, one of the Haigh’s went to study chocolate making with Lindt.”

Senator Penny Wong with Ignazio Cassis in Switzerland.

Foreign Minister Cassis initially tried to reject the gift. “Thank you very much but I cannot accept it, I won’t be re-elected,” he said.

South Australia’s Alfred Haigh started his chocolate business in 1917 and his grandson, John Haigh, studied with both Lindt and Sprüngli to revolutionise the company.

Senator Wong continued to tell Foreign Minister Cassis that Haigh’s had gone from “grasshopper to master”

Foreign Minister Cassis was quick to hand his own gift of Lindt back to Senator Wong.

“But the only thing I can do is give you something in response. You gave me the student, I give you the master,” he laughed.

Today, Haigh’s chocolates can be found all over Australia with over 21 stores and 250 different handcrafted chocolates on offer, with an ever evolving menu.

Originally published as Penny Wong’s South Australian chocolate gift to Swiss politician rejected