BERLIN (AP) – Germany’s representative on the European Union’s executive is facing criticism for appearing to make a derogatory reference to Chinese people and mock same-sex marriage.
Guenther Oettinger, a member of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservative party, referred to “slanty eyes” in a speech that surfaced on YouTube over the weekend. He also said “the German agenda doesn’t in any way do justice to my expectations of German responsibility,” listing alongside actual initiatives “obligatory same-sex marriage.”
Asked whether the government has confidence in Oettinger, Merkel spokesman Steffen Seibert replied: “Yes, of course.”
Oettinger told daily Die Welt Oct. 29 his “somewhat casual comment” wasn’t meant to be disrespectful to China and he has nothing against same-sex marriage.
The minister for families, Manuela Schwesig, told daily Nordwest-Zeitung that Oettinger’s comments were “racist and homophobic.”
