'Weaker,' 'smaller,' 'less intelligent' women deserve less than men, Polish MEP states

A Polish nationalist member of the European Parliament may be punished after he said women "must earn less than men because they are weaker, smaller and less intelligent".

Janusz Korwin-Mikke is now being investigated over the comments made during a discussion on the gender pay gap.

The 74-year-old, who has his own party named Poland’s Coalition for the Renewal of the Republic–Liberty and Hope, said: “Of course women must earn less than men because they are weaker, they are smaller, they are less intelligent, they must earn less, that’s all.”

The president of the EU parliament opened an investigation Thursday into those comments, for which Korwin-Mikke could face sanctions such as a reprimand, a fine or a temporary suspension.

In 2015, the foreign minister of Poland apologized after Korwin-Mikke raised his arm in a Nazi salute during a debate on plans for standardized ticketing on trips across EU borders.

Korwin-Mikke opposed the measure, and raised his hand in salute and said: "Ein Reich, ein Volk, ein Ticket," a play on the Nazi-era slogan "Ein Volk, ein Reich, ein Fuehrer." (One People, one Empire, one Leader).