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[Funky Papa]

Ladies and gentlemen, Günther Oettinger, the gift that keeps on giving.

Digital Commissioner Günther Oettinger has mocked the Chinese, gay marriage, and former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder’s divorce in a shock speech.

Oettinger is infamous for putting his foot in it. But after footage emerged today of the jaw-dropping tirade, it very much looks like Germany’s man in Brussels is guilty of a gaffe too far this time.

He said at a speech in Hamburg, “Last week Chinese ministers visited us […] nine men, one party, and no democracy.

“All of them in suits, single breasted dark blue jackets. All of them had their hair combed from left to right, with black shoe polish on their hair.”

Germany has a quota for female representation on company boards. “There is no quota for women [in China], and there were consequently no women [among the ministers],” Oettinger said to nervous laughter.

The source of the embarrassing footage claims they began filming after Oettinger used the term “Schlitzaugen” – slitty eyes – in reference to the Chinese.

To nervous laughs, Oettinger ploughed on. Discussing German politics, he sarcastically said, “Perhaps obligatory homosexual marriage will be introduced.”

Digital Commissioner Günther Oettinger also boasted about being the only person at the airport who still read his newspaper as it should: from paper. Because news. Paper. Get it? Yes, this is the man who was in charge of shaping the EU's digital agenda.

The good news is, he won't be Digital Commissioner for too long. The bad news: it's just been announced that he's the become the Budget Commissioner. Here's hoping the leaked footage does some real damage.

 

[elrechazado]

The slitty eyes comment is gross, but what's wrong with the bolded comment about nine men, no democracy?

 

[Funky Papa]

The slitty eyes comment is gross, but what's wrong with the bolded comment about nine men, no democracy?

He's one of the highest ranking European officials mocking foreign ministers on a trade mission. He's talking shit about them surrounded by dozens of people. At leasts one of them with a recording phone.

It's a complete diplomatic fuckup.

 

[anonymous_abc]

Ladies and gentlemen, Günther Oettinger, the gift that keeps on giving.



Digital Commissioner Günther Oettinger also boasted about being the only person at the airport who still read his newspaper as it should: from paper. Because news. Paper. Get it? Yes, this is the man who was in charge of shaping the EU's digital agenda.

The good news is, he won't be Digital Commissioner for too long. The bad news: it's just been announced that he's the become the Budget Commissioner. Here's hoping the leaked footage does some real damage.

An embarrassment from the time when politicians were sent to Brussels to die. I really hope countries star sending their A-team to the EU.

 

[Tinfoilhatsron]

The slitty eyes comment is gross, but what's wrong with the bolded comment about nine men, no democracy?

Cause it's bad for diplomacy?
Edit: Beaten.

 

[Frankfurter]

Out of the many horrible things Oettinger said and did, this is the definitely the most non-problematic (atleast for the video part). He mocked everyone, CSU, SPD, the Chinese, Schröder... seemed fair enough lol ^^

 

[Tugatrix]

Responsible for Digital? Oh my

The UE is in need of a deep reform, it's a bureaucratic monster that impose the ideological agenda of some member states to other member states. Example the UE pressure over portuguese budget just because the government is suported by all left and broke away from austerity(curiously the budget is inside the norms of the UE, a thing that the previous government wasn't able to do ever)

 

[elrechazado]

He's one of the highest ranking European officials mocking foreign ministers on a trade mission. He's talking shit about them surrounded by dozens of people. At leasts one of them with a recording phone.

It's a complete diplomatic fuckup.

Cause it's bad for diplomacy?
Edit: Beaten.

Agreed - wasn't objecting to bad diplomacy. I read that as op singling that out as particularly offensive and found it odd given the crazier stuff.

 

[Knastluder]

He is very flüssig in english

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RrEQ8Ovw-Q