Archive · 25 Sep 2026
Italian Women Politicians Protest Tajani’s Skirt Remarks
Antonio Tajani is a senior Italian politician who made comments about what women wear.
He said women with longer skirts might be more serious and dependable marriage partners.
Many people criticized him for linking clothing to a woman’s character.
Female politicians responded by wearing miniskirts to show that women should choose their own clothes.
Raffaella Paita helped organize the protest in Italy’s Senate.
Chiara Appendino and Fiorella Zabatta also criticized Tajani’s remarks.
They said a skirt does not determine whether someone is trustworthy or a good mother.
Tajani later apologized for offending people.
He said that offending women was not his intention.
Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani said women wearing longer skirts are less flashy, more reliable and better marriage prospects.
Tajani made the comments at a political event near Rome while discussing advice he might give a young man about marriage.
Female opposition senators wore miniskirts at Italy’s Senate in a protest organized by Italia Viva senator Raffaella Paita.
Politicians including Chiara Appendino and Fiorella Zabatta criticized the idea that clothing indicates a woman’s reliability or motherhood.
Tajani later apologized, saying he never intended to offend women and that his comments had been misunderstood.
- Who
- Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, female opposition senators and other Italian women politicians.
- What
- Women politicians protested Tajani’s remarks by wearing miniskirts after he associated longer skirts with reliability and marriage suitability.
- When
- Tajani made the remarks at a political event near Rome; the article places the Senate protest on September 22 and the speech on September 25, with the apology reported later that week.
- Where
- The remarks were made at a party political event in Formello near Rome, and the protest took place at Italy’s Senate.
- Why
- The politicians wanted to reject the idea that a woman’s clothing determines her character, reliability, or suitability as a wife or mother.
Critics and Protesters
Tajani’s Response
Meaning of clothing
Critics and Protesters
The protesting politicians said women are free to dress as they choose and that skirt length does not determine reliability, seriousness, motherhood or suitability for marriage.
Tajani’s Response
Tajani associated longer skirts with women who are less flashy, more serious and more reliable, while saying his comments were misunderstood.
Political impact
Critics and Protesters
Opposition politicians described the remarks as sexist and outdated, with Fiorella Zabatta arguing that attention should not focus on women’s clothing.
Tajani’s Response
Tajani apologized for any offense and said he never intended to offend women in either his private or public life.
- Politician criticized
- Antonio Tajani, Italy’s 73-year-old Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister
- Controversial claim
- Tajani said women wearing longer skirts were less flashy, more reliable and more serious marriage prospects.
- Protest action
- Female opposition senators gathered at Italy’s Senate wearing miniskirts.
- Protest organizer
- Italia Viva senator Raffaella Paita described the action as a gesture of freedom of dress.
- Other critics named
- Five Star Movement politician Chiara Appendino and Greens and Left Alliance spokesperson Fiorella Zabatta criticized Tajani.
- Response
- Tajani apologized if anyone was offended and said he never intended to offend women.