The leader of the Catalan Popular Party (PP), Xavier García Albiol, claimed this Friday that the JuntsxCat MP Elsa Artadi did not have "sufficient qualities to be president of Catalonia". The PP leader added that Artadi "has not demonstrated absolutely anything either at political or institutional level, and [if she becomes president] the institution could not have fallen lower nor could she have aspired to such a height". A statement that has led to a wave of protests, branding Albiol's affirmation as sexist, since Artadi has a doctorate from Harvard University and has been an advisor to the World Bank, and this when she is aged only 41.
The criticisms not only attack Xavier García Albiol, but also a number of profiles of her that have appeared in the media, discussing issues such as the fact that Artadi has supposedly sacrificed her family for her career.
(Translations in italics after each tweet)
"But I agree with you, what in a man is seen as merit, they are capable of turning into demerit for a woman."
"The profiles that have been written of Elsa Artadi are shameful and deserve our unanimous rejection."
"The problem isn't Elsa Artadi's CV, the problem is explaining to Albiol the significance of a doctorate from Harvard or working in the World Bank"
"I am surprised that in the profiles of Artadi they don't point out that if she becomes president she will be the most academically qualified ever, with a more outstanding CV and the ability to speak more languages than all those who have ever been leaders of Spain, Catalonia or any autonomous region."
"In some news about female politicians, or about any outstanding women, there is disgusting sexism. And also another great disorder that is tolerated too widely: paternalism."
"Feminine power - knowledge, achievements, independent criteria and capacity for influence with a CV like that of Elsa Artadi - scares mediocre men, worries women who carry out masculine leadership, but gives hope to women who believe in another politics."
"Albiol considers that Elsa Artadi is not qualified to be president of Catalonia and the only merit that he recognises in her is having the confidence of Carles Puigdemont. Here you have the details of both of them, Artadi and Albiol, from Wikipedia"
[Albiol's wikipedia page in English here; a 2013 profile of Artadi in English here]
Press quotes: 1: Perhaps because the party was ruined by her absence or because Artadi was clear that her career was the first priority, the marriage did not prosper and they separated four years ago.
2: Artadi has a consultant brother and a fashion designer sister-in-law. The candidate has preferred not to have children in order to dedicate herself to her professional career.
"Your daily dose of sexism, thanks"
Quoted text: Most people emphasis her doctorate from Harvard (this has no merit, Harvard produces complete hicks) and also her teaching work in Bocconi University. However, few people comment on the visual aspects, that strange hair-colouring. Her hair coloured right down to the roots. And then her innocent look. It's not a coincidence. In the end it's what the PDeCAT ladies who vote for Puigdmeont like. They all want their grandsons to get off the tractor and marry her.
"Nothing beats this article (parenthesis included)."
Some of the tweets protest that the JuntsxCat politician has many more professional merits than Albiol - the PP leader considers that Artadi's only merit worth mentioning is that she has "the trust of Puigdemont".