Overview
- At the Itaca event in Formello, Antonio Tajani compared choosing a political party to advising his son which woman to marry and said a “less showy” woman with “longer skirts” is more reliable.
- Video of the remarks was circulated by Italia Viva and provoked sharp criticism from opposition figures, including Matteo Renzi and Valeria Valente, who described the comments as sexist and retrograde.
- Facing mounting criticism, Tajani apologized at the United Nations on Monday, saying he did not intend to offend and pointing to his appointments of female ambassadors as evidence of his record.
- Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni dismissed the episode as “a phrase that came out badly” and no formal sanctions have been announced, while online protests continued with dozens of women posting short‑skirt photos and some allies offering mixed responses.
- Commentators and activists tied the episode to wider concerns about the coalition’s record on gender parity, noting that debates over electoral-law changes and representation could be intensified by public statements that critics say reinforce patriarchal norms.