POLITICS AND APOLOGIES

-Why did Canete have to apologise?

-What would you say to him if you had a chance?
-In what way is this a step backwards for his party?


Spain sexism row forces

candidate to apologise


MADRID, May 21:

A sexism row forced Spain’s top conservative European Union election candidate to apologise on Wednesday for implying he had “intellectual superiority” over a “helpless” female rival.
Miguel Arias Canete said after a televised duel against his rival Elena Valenciano that it was hard to debate with a woman, “because if you show your intellectual superiority you are thought sexist for cornering a helpless woman”.
Valenciano seized on the comment made the day after the May 15 debate, which dominated the headlines until Canete apologised five days later.
“If I offended anyone then of course I apologise. I was unfortunate in my manner of speaking and some are giving the wrong impression of me,” he said on Cope radio.
“I am not sexist. I have always considered men and women equal.”
Canete, 64, stepped down as agriculture minister last month to lead the ruling Popular Party’s campaign for the European parliament against Valenciano’s Socialists.
Experienced in EU affairs as a former member of the European Parliament and minister from 2011 to this year, he was nevertheless considered to have lost the May 15 head-to-head with Valenciano.
His comment on women inflamed criticism of the ruling party which had already raised sensitivities over women’s rights by approving a tightening of the abortion law.
“Of course we accept his apology,” Valenciano told Cadena Ser radio on Wednesday. “But I think this apology is late and forced.”
She judged his attitudes “not compatible with politics in the 20th century” and said his comments on various occasions were “sexist and degrading to women”.
The row shook up the election campaign in Spain, where the political parties are labouring to motivate voters disillusioned with years of economic turbulence and corruption scandals.

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