Germany’s EU commissioner has tried to play down remarks about Chinese and gay marriage that critics described as clearly racist and discriminatory.
In a speech to businessmen held in Hamburg last week, Guenther Oettinger, the senior member of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservative party, used the derogatory term Schlitzaugen – slit eyes – to describe people from China and other Asian descent.
“That was a somewhat sloppy remark that was in no way meant to be disrespectful to China,” Oettinger told the newspaper Die Welt, without apologizing for it. Instead, the EU commissioner defended himself against accusations of racism.
“You have to see the broader context in which I made my remarks. In my speech, I wanted to warn Germany of too much self-confidence,” he said.
In the speech, a video of which also surfaced online, Oettinger criticized Germany’s current political agenda, listing issues such as maternity leave, retirement and child-care allowances.
He then added that “perhaps compulsory gay marriage” would be introduced soon, triggering some laughter in the audience.
The German Federation of Lesbians and Gays (LSVD) and politicians from the Greens and Social Democrats sharply criticized Oettinger, with some calling for his resignation.
“An EU commissioner must be able to convincingly represent the European values of non-discrimination and not put the case for racist and homophobic prejudices,” LSVD spokeswoman Stefanie Schmidt said.
That was a somewhat sloppy remark that was in no way meant to be disrespectful
to China
Green politician Volker Beck called Oettinger a “lunatic goblin” afraid of gays and urged him to apologise for his remarks.
“Someone who openly taps into such racist and homophobic feelings of prejudice disqualifies himself for top positions in politics,” SPD Secretary General Katarina Barley told Der Spiegel.
“An EU budget commissioner with such a philosophy could damage the EU as a whole,” Barley added.
The row comes only days after an announcement that Oettinger, who is responsible for digital economy policy in the EU’s executive body, will take over the budget portfolio from Bulgaria’s European commissioner, Kristalina Georgieva, who will start a new job at the World Bank.
In his new position, Oettinger will handle talks on how to manage the EU’s budget after Britain leaves the European Union.
Japanese & Chinese race are one of the most intelligent race in this planet,according to IQ rating Japanese/Chinese score 150,Jews 140,Russians 130,,white race 90,south asians 80,arabs are 70 …his frustration is understandable but then due to bad karma you are born into bad races.
Geo Politics has changed it is back to era of Genghis Khan Japanese,Chinese & Russian president are more powerful than some stupid German Nazi …even turkey sultan erdogan treats the Germans as his province that is fact
No more sauerkraut with my iesbein and bratwurst.
The comment ‘slit eye’ or ‘Schlitzauge’ is commonly used in Germany for someone who is not playing by the rule and constantly seeking an advantage at the expese of others.
That is nothing. Russians use words like ,"squint eyed bastards…" !