A Heated Exchange in Strasbourg: Podemos MEP Irene Montero Defends Women's Rights Against Far-Right Critique
In a fiery exchange during a recent session in Strasbourg, Podemos Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Irene Montero clashed with Alvise Pérez from the far-right party Se Acabó la Fiesta. The debate began when Pérez posed a provocative question addressing the issue of violence against women, specifically whether more women are killed by those who oppose the right to abortion or by women who legislate for the release of murderers and rapists.
Pérez's question, opening with "dear Irene," was met with immediate resistance from Montero. "I am a deputy, not 'dear,'" she asserted, swiftly calling out Pérez for what she deemed machismo. Montero emphasized the critical need for an environment in Europe that supports women's rights, particularly in relation to motherhood. She argued that in order to encourage women to have children, Europe must first guarantee housing rights, and she condemned the trend of allocating housing to investment funds.
Continuing her argument, Montero highlighted the necessity of decent wages and public services as fundamental for preserving women's rights. She forcefully denounced individuals like Pérez, whom she referred to as racists who infringe on the fundamental rights of migrants. Montero's remarks reflect a deep commitment to advancing social rights, feminist principles, and antiracist policies, contrasting sharply with the ideologies that Pérez represents.
"We need to advance in social rights, feminist rights, and antiracist policies—exactly the opposite of what you represent, the fascists whom Europe will defeat again as it has many times throughout history," Montero concluded. Her passionate defense of progressive values highlights a growing divide in European politics, as the continent grapples with the challenges of upholding human rights amid rising far-right sentiments.
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