Polish MEP punished for sexist remarks
PR dla Zagranicy
Roberto Galea
14.03.2017 14:17
Penalties have been imposed on Polish MEP Janusz Korwin-Mikke for sexist remarks he made in early March.
Janusz Korwin-Mikke. Photo: PAP/Radek Pietruszka
The European parliament press office said the sanctions – which include Korwin-Mikke losing his daily subsistence allowance for 30 days, being suspended from parliamentary activities for ten days (with the exception of voting) and prohibited from representing the European Parliament for a year – were “unprecedented” in their severity.
Korwin-Mikke’s comments that women are “weaker, smaller and less intelligent” than men, were called “unacceptable” by European Parliament President Antonio Tajani on Tuesday.
Tajani said: “I will not tolerate such behaviour, in particular when it comes from someone who is expected to discharge his duties as a representative of the peoples of Europe with due dignity. By offending all women, the MEP displayed contempt for our most fundamental values”.
Korwin-Mikke’s remarks during a plenary debate on the “gender pay gap” on 1 March received international attention.
The Polish MEP is unaffiliated and was elected to the European Parliament in 2014. (rg/pk)