Portugal president is accused of sexism after pointing out a woman’s cleavage was on show and saying she was ‘prettier than her mother’

Portugal’s president has been accused of sexism after saying a young woman was prettier than her mother. He pointed to her cleavage and said she was going to get the flu.

Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa made the chilling comments while walking through Toronto as part of his official visit to Canada this week.

The 74-year-old was greeted by excited residents, including a mother and daughter of Portuguese descent, as he strolled through the city with officials.

The mother brought her daughter forward as she told the president that their names were both Maria.

“The daughter is more beautiful than the mother,” Mr. Rebelo de Sousa then said rudely to the couple.

‘But the daughter could still get the flu. Have you seen her cleavage?’ he added, before quickly walking away with a grin on his face.

The mother brought her daughter forward as she told the president that their names were both Maria

The comments sparked a backlash in Portugal, forcing the leader, who has become known for his conservative views, to defend himself vigorously.

‘It wasn’t a sexist comment. I didn’t think of it that way, and neither did the young woman or the old ladies. It wasn’t sexist at all,” he said.

He further claimed that he had spoken to “several people, but apparently only the comment to one young woman was filmed.”

But many were unimpressed by his explanation, with women’s rights activists and political rivals demanding an apology.

‘He should apologize. Sexism is killing us. It is not a joke,” said Isabel Moreira, an MP from the ruling Socialist Party.

“This is 2023. You can’t just walk up to a woman you don’t know and make a ‘joke’ about her weight or her cleavage.”

Manuela Silva, executive director of the Democratic Women’s Movement, said his comments were made in a “light-hearted manner that undermines the dignity of women.”

“Basically the president talks too much and doesn’t say what he should say,” she said.

“The daughter is more beautiful than the mother,” Mr Rebelo de Sousa then said rudely to the pair, who are of Portuguese descent

Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa quickly walked away with a grin on his face after making the comments

“There are some rights won by women that are not being fulfilled, and this is what the president should be concerned about, not about bad taste jokes… I think he comes across very badly,” she told reporters.

The criticism of the president comes after comments he made about the ‘Kissgate’ scandal involving the Spanish football chief sparked further controversy.

When asked for his opinion on Luis Rubiales kissing Spanish player Jenni Hermoso, Mr Rebelo de Sousa waved it away, saying it was a “minor issue” compared to the war in Ukraine.

Rebelo de Sousa was in Canada last week for a five-day official visit, during which he spoke with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Their discussions focused on the illegal working conditions faced by many Portuguese nationals in the country, he said.

“They are working hard in Canada, and I think there is a great openness in the Canadian government to solve the problem,” he told reporters.

The President of the Republic also met and dined with Portuguese emigrants and Portuguese descendants at LIUNA, a construction trade union, before the end of his trip on Sunday.