A European Commissioner has faced accusations of sexism after a sauna-based briefing for nude journalists. The secret naked gathering was cut short when the Finnish vice-president of the European Commission objected to women being allowed in.
Olli Rehn treated the journalists to a communal shower and two sauna sessions, before storming out when news of the meeting spread through the European press room and women attempted to join, explaining later:
“I’m all for equality of the sexes but this was just pushing it too far…”
And in reports sure to have steam coming from Eurosceptic ears, it highlights the fact of the European Commission having a sauna within their Brussels HQ.
According to newspaper the Süddeutsche Zeitung (based in Bavaria and the home of the German sauna experience), a delegation from the UK were among those hosted by Rehn.
We hope they won’t be giving British parliamentarians ideas on Palace of Westminster upgrades.
5 Comments
What a load of rot. I went to a sauna in Germany and there were men and women hanging around in the nude quite happily. Mind you, that was Berlin I suppose.
Oli Rehn has form when it comes to saunas. When he was first elected to the European Parliament after Finland joined the EU he invited a troupe of Finnish journalists to a photo opp of him in the Strasbourg parliament sauna. I happened to be in there at the time and ended up appearing on the front page of Helsingen Sanomat with just a towel for my dignity sitting next to a beaming Oli Rehn
Politicians and journalists should be clothed always. If I were a European politician, I would be quite happy to be prevented from seeing a load of floppy middle-aged politiscrotum. Although secret gatherings involving politicians and journalists are a bit suspicious anyway, naked or otherwise.
We’re there any police horses involved?
I live in Germany. The Germans have no problem with sharing a sauna with people of both genders.
If they’re not comfortable with it though, they could consider meeting in a conference room or suchlike.