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Barroso 'used blackmail' to get more female commissioners Barroso 'used blackmail' to get more female commissioners
(about 2 hours later)
The former president of the European Commission says he "used blackmail" to persuade members to put forward female candidates as commissioners.The former president of the European Commission says he "used blackmail" to persuade members to put forward female candidates as commissioners.
Jose-Manuel Barroso was speaking in a jovial mood to a mainly female audience at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Jose-Manuel Barroso was speaking, in a jovial mood, to a mainly female audience at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
He said that he told prime ministers their country would get less important commissioner roles unless they proposed a woman for the job. He said he told prime ministers their country would get fewer important commissioner roles unless they proposed a woman for the job.
"I needed women," he said. A third of Commissioners must be female. "I needed women," he said.
Explaining how it worked, Mr Barroso said: "That's the power of the president of Commission - to choose the portfolio". A third of Commissioners must be female.
Mr Barroso said his intervention worked: "That's the power of the president of Commission - to choose the portfolio".
Talent and genderTalent and gender
If a country proposed a man, then instead of offering them the position of financial markets, competition, energy, or economic affairs, he would offer them a less important position, such as sport. He outlined the punishment awaiting those who did not take the hint.
Gordon Brown was one prime minister he had to persuade to propose a woman instead of a man, resulting in Baroness Ashton becoming trade commissioner. If a country proposed a man, instead of offering them oversight of financial markets, competition, energy, or economic affairs, he would offer them a less important position, such as sport.
"I told Gordon Brown I need a woman because I will not make my quota," he said, before stressing that Ms Ashton was a very talented candidate and did not get the job just for her gender credentials. Gordon Brown was one prime minister he had to persuade to propose a woman instead of a man, pressure that resulted in Baroness Ashton becoming trade commissioner.
Mr Barroso was part of a panel of speakers discussing a report looking at why there were so few women in the parliaments around the world. On average, the report says, just one in five political representatives are women. "I told Gordon Brown 'I need a woman because I will not make my quota'," he said, before stressing that Ms Ashton was a very talented candidate and did not get the job just because of her gender.
Rwanda was held up as a noble exception with its parliament of majority female MPs. Mr Barroso was part of a panel of speakers discussing a report examining why there were so few women in parliaments around the world. On average, the report said, just one in five elected politicians are women.
Rwanda was a notable exception as its parliament has a majority of female MPs.
Washed upWashed up
Cherie Blair, lawyer and wife of the former British prime minister Tony Blair, was also part of the panel.Cherie Blair, lawyer and wife of the former British prime minister Tony Blair, was also part of the panel.
She said that it was important to change the culture and that quotas were a good start.She said that it was important to change the culture and that quotas were a good start.
"Yes, they're a short term, quick fix, but we should stop apologising for them," she said, before adding that it wasn't just about women, but about men and how they are viewed. "Yes, they're a short term, quick fix, but we should stop apologising for them," she said, before adding that it wasn't just about women, but about men and how they are viewed, said Mrs Blair, who stood for parliament in 1983.
"We shouldn't have a situation where men at home are seen as child molesters," said Mrs Blair, who stood for parliament in 1983.
To much amusement she also relayed a story about Tony Blair being the "politician's spouse".To much amusement she also relayed a story about Tony Blair being the "politician's spouse".
"The ultimate humiliation...we had to talk to my agent about the forthcoming election campaign. At the end of the lunch the agent's wife said to Tony - 'I think we should leave them to talk business. Would you mind coming and helping with the washing up?'' "The ultimate humiliation... we had to talk to my agent about the forthcoming election campaign. At the end of the lunch the agent's wife said to Tony: 'I think we should leave them to talk business. Would you mind coming and helping with the washing up?''