An Italian politician has caused controversy after he described the French President Emmanuel Macron as ‘feminine.’
His comment comes a day after Macron attempted to show his more macho-side by posing for pictures sparring with a punching bag.
Roberto Menia, a member of the Italian senate, made the remarks during a discussion about Macron’s proposal that NATO could send troops to Ukraine.
Menia said: ‘Peace cannot be achieved even by hypothesizing military interventions, even by muscle flexing, by one who usually proves to be rather feminine, and you know who I’m talking about.’
In his speech, the member of the ruling right-wing Brothers of Italy party also criticised Pope Francis for asking for peace. He said: ‘Peace is not made by raising the white flag even if the Pope says so.’
The pictures released by Macron’s official photographer Sazig de la Moissonniere show the French leader in a boxing gym where he flexed his muscles as he hit a punching bag
Roberto Menia (left) described French President Emmanuel Macron as ‘feminine’ during a discussion about Macron’s proposal that NATO could send troops to Ukraine
Menia received audible groans from other members of the senate and even the leader of Brothers of Italy in the senate, Lucio Malan, attempted to distance himself from Menia’s remarks.
In words reported by Gay.IT, an Italian website for LGBT news, Malan said: ‘I think he used an unfortunate expression.’
While former Prime Minister of Italy and leader of the Liberal Italia Viva party Matteo Renzi said: ‘I also think that Italy has a lot to say in meetings with France and Germany, but I do it with the civility of someone who doesn’t come to a parliament hall to define the President of the French Republic as ‘feminine’.
‘This shows your lack of culture and your lack of respect.’
Menia’s remarks followed a speech from Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Tuesday where she stated her opposition to Macron’s proposal that NATO could send troops to Ukraine, setting the scene for a future war of words between the two European leaders.
The Italian news agency ANSA reported that Meloni said: ‘Regarding the proposal made by France on the possible direct military intervention, our position is not in favor of this hypothesis, which could lead to a dangerous escalation that must be avoided at all costs.’
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Menia made his remarks about Macron following a speech from Meloni where she she stated her opposition to Macron’s proposal that NATO could send troops to Ukraine, setting the scene for a potential war of words between the two European leaders
Macron released the pictures following repeated warnings from the French President that Western ground troops going into Ukraine should not be ‘ruled out’
Last month Macron refused to rule out putting troops on the ground in Ukraine and he said that Western ground operations in Ukraine might be necessary ‘at some point.’
This week, Macron has been attempting to position himself as the strongman of Western Europe who is standing up to Putin. To do this pictures were released by Macron’s official photographer Sazig de la Moissonniere and show the French leader in a boxing gym yesterday, where he flexed his muscles as he hit a punching bag.
Macron’s cringe-worthy portrayal of strength with the boxing photos resemble similar attempts by Russian president Putin, whose office previously released photos of him beating an opponent in Judo, playing ice hockey or riding shirtless on a horse.
The pictures come amid repeated warnings by Macron, who said sending Western ground troops into Ukraine should not be ‘ruled out’ and urged European leaders not to be ‘cowards’ when it comes to the defence of Ukraine.
***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk