| Series Title | European Voice |
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| Series Details | Vol.10, No.28, 29.7.04 |
| Publication Date | 29/07/2004 |
| Content Type | News |
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Date: 29/07/04 A SLOVAK MEP, who once described homosexuality as a health defect, has sparked controversy after she was elected this week as chairwoman of the women's rights and gender equality committee in the European Parliament. Anna Zaborska, of the Slovakian Christian Democrats (KDH), was elected despite fierce opposition from other committee members. UK Socialist Mary Honeyball condemned her appointment as "wholly inappropriate". Zaborska's proposed election last Friday was postponed after some members refused to support her nomination. Instead, they called on the European People's Party (EPP-ED), to which the KDH is aligned, to find another candidate. This jeopardized an agreement between the assembly's two big political group, the EPP-ED and the Socialists, under which a Socialist MEP would chair the economic and monetary affairs committee (EMAC) while a centre-right deputy would chair the women's rights committee. But when it came to Zaborska's election on Tuesday, Socialist committee members refused to take part in the vote. The 56-year-old Slovak was finally elected by 14 votes to four, paving the way for French Socialist Pervenche Beres to be elected yesterday (Wednesday) as EMAC chair. Opposition to Zaborska's election follows her controversial comments in the past on abortion and homosexuality. She is anti-abortion and once said that homosexuals should not be allowed to teach because they could have a negative effect on children. Honeyball said: "It is disappointing that the Christian Democrats put forward a candidate who is clearly unsympathetic to the aims of our committee. "Her views on abortion and homosexuality in particular could put her in direct conflict with what the committee is trying to achieve. "It is a very provocative choice by the EPP which put us in a difficult position." German Socialist Lissy Groner, agreed: "I opposed her candidacy because her attitude is against the spirit of the committee." Another controversial member elected to the women's rights committee is Godfrey Bloom, from the UK Independence Party, who caused uproar last week by attacking maternity rights. Bloom said he was vindicated by his election to the committee, adding: "Since last week, I've been swamped with letters and emails, most of them supporting what I said." A Slovak MEP, Anna Zaborska, who once described homosexuality as a health defect, has sparked controversy after she was elected this week as chairwoman of the women's rights and gender equality committee in the European Parliament. |
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| Source Link | http://www.european-voice.com/ |
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| Subject Categories | Politics and International Relations |
| Countries / Regions | Slovakia |
