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Iratxe García (PSOE, or socialists) and Izaskun Bilbao (PNV, or Basque Nationalist Party) exploded during a European Parliament meeting leading to a full-scale multi-lingual row after Janusz Korwin-Mikke – who is not linked to any political party – made his derogatory comments about female workers.
He said: “Do you know how many women are in the top 100 chess players in the world? I'll tell you: none.
“Of course women should earn less than men because they're weaker, smaller and not as intelligent.”
The debate was on the gender pay gap in the EU, which affects the 28 member States in varying degrees.
“I realise it upsets you and worries you that women today are recognised as equal citizens to you,” retorted Iratxe García (pictured), “but I come here to defend us European women against men like yourself!”
“I had to really try to control myself,” fumed García afterwards.
“Korwin-Mikke is well-known for his far-right statements, and he has not just insulted women, but human intelligence in general.”
His comments had come in response to MEP Izaskun Bilbao's approaching the subject of men's and women's pay and calling for the EU to fight against this 'consequence of inequality' by 'improving the work-life balance' and 'promoting shared responsibility' within the home, as well as top roles in the private and public sector being assigned on merit and ability without workers' gender being a motive for penalising them.
“Resolving these problems, which starts by changing the personal attitudes of each and every one of us, is the first step in overcoming this ongoing hurdle,” Bilbao said during her speech.
It is not just Spanish women in politics who reacted with outrage over Korwin-Mikke's bald statement – Spain's minister for foreign affairs, Alfonso Dastis (PP) said these comments were 'intolerable', 'unacceptable' and 'made his jaw drop'.
“Even though MEPs are within their rights to express their opinions within the framework of freedom of speech, this doesn't mean doing so is acceptable,” Dastis argued.
But he says any disciplinary measures taken against Korwin-Mikke would be effected within the Hemicycle.
And in fact, Iratxe García has been in talks with the European Socialists' chairman, Italian Gianni Pittella, asking him to look into whether the Polish MEP should be punished, through a fine or disciplinary action, or both.
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