The president of Portugal is accused of sexism after pointing out that a woman’s cleavage was shown and saying that she was “prettier than her mother”
- Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa made the comments during a walk in Toronto
Portugal’s president has been accused of sexism after saying a young woman was prettier than her mother and pointing to her cleavage, saying she would catch the flu.
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa made embarrassing comments while walking through Toronto as part of his official visit to Canada this week.
The 74-year-old was greeted by enthusiastic residents, including a mother and daughter of Portuguese origin, as he walked around the city with officials.
The mother approached her daughter and told the president that they were both called María.
“The daughter is more beautiful than the mother,” Mr. Rebelo de Sousa then rudely told the couple.
But the daughter could still catch the flu. Have you seen her cleavage? she added, before quickly walking away with a smile on her face.
The Portuguese president told a young woman that she could catch the flu while pointing to her cleavage
The mother approached her daughter and told the president that they were both called María.
The comments sparked a backlash in Portugal, forcing the leader, known for his conservative views, to issue a strong defence.
‘It wasn’t a sexist comment. I didn’t think about it that way and neither did the young woman or the old women. It wasn’t sexist at all,” she said.
He went on to claim that he had told “several people, but apparently only the comment was filmed to one young woman.”
But many were unimpressed with her explanation, and women’s activists and political rivals demanded an apology.
‘You should apologize. Sexism is killing us. “It’s not a joke,” said Isabel Moreira, a lawmaker for the ruling Socialist Party.
“It’s 2023. You can’t just walk up to a woman you don’t know and make a ‘joke’ about her weight or her cleavage.”
Manuela Silva, director of the Women’s Democratic Movement, said her comments were made in a “lighthearted manner that undermines the dignity of women.”
“In fact, the president talks too much and doesn’t say what he should,” he said.
“The daughter is more beautiful than the mother,” Mr. Rebelo de Sousa then rudely told the couple, of Portuguese origin.
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa quickly walked away with a smile on his face after making the comments.
“There are a series of rights won by women that are not being fulfilled, and this is what should worry the president, not the jokes in bad taste… I think it gives a very bad impression,” she told reporters.
The criticism of the president comes after comments he made about the ‘Kissgate’ scandal involving the Spanish football boss sparked even more controversy.
When asked what he thought about Luis Rubiales’ kiss with Spanish player Jenni Hermoso, Rebelo de Sousa downplayed it and said it was a “minor issue” compared to the war in Ukraine.
Rebelo de Sousa was in Canada for a five-day official visit last week, which included talks with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Their discussions focused on the illegal working conditions faced by many Portuguese living in the country, he said.
“They are working hard in Canada and I think there is a great openness on the part of the Canadian government to solve the problem,” he told reporters.
The president of the republic also met and dined with Portuguese emigrants and descendants of Portuguese at LIUNA, a union in the construction sector, before ending his trip on Sunday.
