It was a grossly failed attempt at humour, given the history of the two nations

The head of the Christian Social Union (CSU) and Interior Minister for Germany, Horst Seehofer made a highly provocative statement during his speech in the city of Ingolstadt, in the run-up to the Bavarian elections, even if it was done in jest.

“The Bavarians ruled Greece for a time. Maybe it would have been better had it not been temporary”, he said in an apparent attempt at humour.

“Bavarians ruled #Greece for a time. Maybe it would have been better had it not been temporary,“ @CSU leader #Seehofer jokes to home crowd ahead of #Bavaria election”, according to Politico correspondent in Europe, Matthew Karnitschnig, who tweeted the statement.

„Bavarians ruled #Greece for a time. Maybe it would have been better had it not been temporary,“ @CSU leader #Seehofer jokes to home crowd ahead of #Bavaria election pic.twitter.com/ieIIY5irko — Matthew Karnitschnig (@MKarnitschnig) October 8, 2018

Some Twitter users were quick to respond taking the German politician to task, reminding him why the Greeks had kicked out the Bavarians in the first place.

A history lesson. King Otto was really unpopular in Greece for the very beginning. The political resentment against Bavarians had grown so strong by 1841 that every non-Greek minister returned to Bavaria. Otto stayed until the Greeks sent even him into exile in 1862.

wrote one user, while another wrote: