Babiš makes MP Ševčík face apology over “menopause” remark in Czechia

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš led MP Ševčík to the lectern right in the Chamber of Deputies and demanded that he apologize for shouting “menopause” at his colleague Šebelová. Ševčík refused: he later said he would not apologize.

How it all began

On Wednesday at the lectern, MP Šebelová announced that the Mayors' club wanted to take a break in the session. In response, Ševčík shouted “menopause.” He was condemned not only by opposition members but also by representatives of the governing coalition, for example the head of the ANO deputies' club, Taťána Malá.

On Thursday, during question time with the prime minister, the issue was raised by the chair of the Pirates' club, Olga Richterová. Her question was: “Do you agree with boorishness in the Chamber of Deputies?” Babiš replied that he did not: “I definitely don't like it, boorishness not only in the Chamber but anywhere else.” He then recalled expressions that his own political opponents, including the Pirates, had used about him in the past.

Babiš at the lectern

When Richterová asked whether he would call on Ševčík to apologize, the prime minister chose an unusual approach. He walked over to the MP and almost dragged him to the lectern, where the two stood side by side at the microphone.

“The honorable member is surely above this by now. So apologize to the ladies, you don't have to read it, that would be another controversy again,” Babiš said, glancing at Ševčík's notes. “I can't,” replied Ševčík, a former dean of the Faculty of Economics at the Prague University of Economics and Business. “Say that you're sorry,” the prime minister insisted.

Skopeček, who was chairing the session, intervened and reminded everyone that question time for the prime minister was under way and only he could answer. “The honorable member will certainly apologize to you,” Babiš said, adding: “I'm sorry, Mr. Deputy, be a little above this.” With that, the topic was closed during question time.

What Ševčík himself says

During the day Ševčík commented on the situation to journalists and did not apologize. According to him, the word “menopause” is used when talking about changes in behavior, and he said it about six seconds after Šebelová had stepped away from the microphone. He claims it could not and was not meant to refer to her, but that the one who felt hit probably spoke up.

He also said that Šebelová came up to him for no reason, attacked him and began pushing and groping him with her hands. Chamber Speaker and SPD leader Tomio Okamura said that Ševčík's expression was definitely inappropriate, but insults against opposition MPs are just as inappropriate.

Around Prague, based on reporting by novinky.cz