Italian Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani drew sharp rebukes from opposition lawmakers and the Catholic Church after publicly suggesting that women who wear longer skirts make better mothers and more faithful wives. Tajani, who also serves as Italy's foreign minister and leads the Forza Italia party, made the remarks in comments that quickly became a […] The post Italy's deputy PM sparks backlash after linking skirt length to good motherhood appeared first on American Almanac .
What previous controversy was Antonio Tajani involved in regarding historical figures?
In 2019, on the Italian radio show La Zanzara, Tajani offered a partial defense of Benito Mussolini's legacy by stating that "if we must be honest, he built roads, bridges, buildings," which drew widespread condemnation despite Tajani insisting he was "not a fascist."
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What was the nature of Antonio Tajani's apology following the controversy?
Tajani issued a conditional apology from New York while attending the United Nations General Assembly, stating, "I apologise if people felt offended by what I said, but I never intended to offend women." He did not withdraw the substance of his remarks or state that the comments were wrong.
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What was the public response from Giuseppe Baturi regarding Tajani's statements?
Giuseppe Baturi, the head of the Italian Bishops Conference, stated that "Every word and every gaze directed at a woman must be filled with respect and admiration," noting that for Christians, the fact that the Word became flesh in a woman's womb leaves an indelible mark on how women are viewed.
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How did Chiara Appendino, a former mayor of Turin and centre-left member of parliament, respond to Tajani's comments?
Chiara Appendino responded on Instagram by posting a photo of herself in a miniskirt and stating, "Tajani, am I not a reliable woman? Am I not a good mother?" She argued that in 2026, a government minister should not be explaining that it is better to marry a woman who is less flashy and wears a longer skirt, adding that "Our reliability is not measured in centimetres of fabric."
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Italian Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani drew sharp rebukes from opposition lawmakers and the Catholic Church after publicly suggesting that women who wear longer skirts make better mothers and more faithful wives. Tajani, who also serves as Italy's foreign minister and leads the Forza Italia party, made the remarks in comments that quickly became a national controversy. He described a hypothetical scenario in which he would advise his son against marrying a "glamorous girl" who had "gone through a string of boyfriends, dumped them, walked out, and has a tendency to cheat." The better choice, Tajani argued, would be a woman "who will be a good mother and stay true to the love she pledges in marriage...the one who perhaps wears skirts…Open
