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Danish MP told child 'not welcome' in parliament chamber | Danish MP told child 'not welcome' in parliament chamber |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A Danish MP has spoken out after another politician told her to remove her baby from the parliament's chamber. | A Danish MP has spoken out after another politician told her to remove her baby from the parliament's chamber. |
Mette Abildgaard said it was the first time she had brought her five-month-old daughter to work, as her father could not step in to take care of her. | |
Pia Kjaersgaard, the former leader of the far-right Danish People's Party, was said to tell her colleague, "You are not welcome with your baby." | Pia Kjaersgaard, the former leader of the far-right Danish People's Party, was said to tell her colleague, "You are not welcome with your baby." |
Ms Kjaersgaard said clearer guidelines should be given for MPs with children. | Ms Kjaersgaard said clearer guidelines should be given for MPs with children. |
In a post on Facebook, Ms Abildgaard said she had witnessed another colleague taking their child to work without any problems so she did not ask permission to do so. | In a post on Facebook, Ms Abildgaard said she had witnessed another colleague taking their child to work without any problems so she did not ask permission to do so. |
She said she had agreed with her secretary that if her baby made "the slightest noise", she would not take her into the chamber, but as her daughter was "in a good mood" she decided to take her in. | She said she had agreed with her secretary that if her baby made "the slightest noise", she would not take her into the chamber, but as her daughter was "in a good mood" she decided to take her in. |
Ms Kjaersgaard then passed a message to an assistant, asking the MP to remove her baby. "MPs should be in the chamber, not babies or children," Ms Kjaersgaard later told news agency Ritzau. | Ms Kjaersgaard then passed a message to an assistant, asking the MP to remove her baby. "MPs should be in the chamber, not babies or children," Ms Kjaersgaard later told news agency Ritzau. |
Her spokesman told Denmark's BT tabloid that she was only following the rules as speaker of Parliament and felt the baby was "disturbing the meeting". | Her spokesman told Denmark's BT tabloid that she was only following the rules as speaker of Parliament and felt the baby was "disturbing the meeting". |
Denmark is among the most generous providers of parental leave in the world. New mothers are entitled to 18 weeks, with both parents entitled to a further 32 weeks which they can split between them as they please. | Denmark is among the most generous providers of parental leave in the world. New mothers are entitled to 18 weeks, with both parents entitled to a further 32 weeks which they can split between them as they please. |
In her Facebook post, Ms Abildgaard said she had chosen to return to work "to serve democracy". | In her Facebook post, Ms Abildgaard said she had chosen to return to work "to serve democracy". |
"A chamber that represents mothers, fathers and babies ought to be open to mothers, fathers and babies," one Facebook user said in a comment. | "A chamber that represents mothers, fathers and babies ought to be open to mothers, fathers and babies," one Facebook user said in a comment. |
This was not the first time that bringing a baby into the political sphere has made headlines. | This was not the first time that bringing a baby into the political sphere has made headlines. |
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern brought her baby along to her debut speech at the UN in New York in September, becoming the first world leader to attend a general assembly meeting with her child. | New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern brought her baby along to her debut speech at the UN in New York in September, becoming the first world leader to attend a general assembly meeting with her child. |
And last year, footage of Canadian minister Karina Gould breastfeeding her son in parliament went viral. | And last year, footage of Canadian minister Karina Gould breastfeeding her son in parliament went viral. |
Laws in Western Australia are currently being discussed to allow mothers to breastfeed in parliament, but the proposals sparked controversy by not also allowing for bottle-feeding. | Laws in Western Australia are currently being discussed to allow mothers to breastfeed in parliament, but the proposals sparked controversy by not also allowing for bottle-feeding. |