The Minister of Youth and Children, Sira Rego, has accused the president of the Popular Party, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, of resorting to "old man's sexism" after the popular leader stated that he considers himself a feminist because he was "raised in a house with many more women than men."
In a message published on the social network X, Rego wrote: "Day 18 of pre-campaign: old man's sexism, the worldview. From 'I'm not a sexist because I have a mother' to wanting to decide how much our rights are worth. Feijóo, knowing women doesn't make you a feminist. Cover yourself up a bit."
Feijóo's words on Cadena Ser
The minister reacted this way after the interview granted by the president of the Popular Party to Cadena Ser, reported by Europa Press, in which Feijóo assured that he considers himself a feminist due to the environment in which he grew up.
Alberto Núñez Feijóo stated: "How am I going to think that a woman does not have the same rights as a man or how am I not going to accept that there is still a wage gap between women and men?".
In that same interview, the PP leader also announced that, if he forms a government, he will transfer Equality competencies "to other ministries". "No, I don't eliminate it, the minister who handles Equality should be in charge of other things, not just Equality," he specified.
Feijóo also referred to the Minister of Equality, Ana Redondo, and maintained that "the Minister of Equality cannot work from 8 to 3 and go to Valladolid by AVE to spend the afternoon."
More criticism from Frente Amplio and other government officials
Feijóo's statements have provoked new criticism among leaders of Frente Amplio, including the number one candidate for Madrid, Emilio Delgado, who replied to the PP president that "the women of this country already brought down a minister who proposed cutting their rights."
Delgado added on X: "Feijóo's canoe wobbles every time he speaks: first he questions pensions and now women's freedom," referring to statements made by Feijóo himself a couple of days ago.
For his part, the head of Social Rights launched another criticism at the popular leader: "If being raised with women makes you a feminist, what does vacationing with drug traffickers make you?", in allusion to the photograph in which Feijóo appears next to Marcial Dorado, convicted of drug trafficking.
The Minister of Health, Mónica García, also criticized on social media Feijóo's announcement that he would take abortion and euthanasia back to 1980. "This November 29th, we are playing for the rights conquered by women and the right to decide about our life and our death, without any old-fashioned person having to tell us how to do it," she concluded.