PD calls on Meloni to intervene over undersecretary's sexism

(see related) (ANSA) - ROME, JUL 2 - The centre-left Democratic Party (PD) on Sunday called on Premier Giorgia Meloni to intervene over sexist comments at a Rome museum event by Undersecretary Vittorio Sgarbi that have caused a furore.
    Employees at Rome's MAXXI contemporary art museum wrote to their director to protest after Sgarbi spoke extensively about his "dick" and his sexual conquests and gave estimates about the number of women famous statesmen of the past had had sex with.
    The profanity-heavy speech, made during an event to present the museum's summer programme, can be seen online.
    "Sgarbi's comments at MAXXI were extremely serious and unacceptable, a sign of a worrying cultural regression," said PD Lower House whip Chiara Braga.
    "You cannot use a great cultural institution as a platform for an undignified spectacle that is offensive to the (museum's) women workers and to all women.
    "We call for measures to be taken, convinced that Premier Meloni cannot be indifferent to this.
    "It wasn't jest, but a serious episode in terms of language, tone and content".
    Sgarbi, an explosive art critic who is never far from controversy, was angered by the row.
    "In that case, let's censor (Pier Paola) Pasolini's (novel) Petrolio and (Lucio) Battisti's (song) Dieci Ragazze Per Me (Ten Girls for Me)," he said.
    The PD has also called on Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano to report to parliament over Sgarbi's "serious, vulgar, sexist, nasty comments".
    On Sunday Sangiuliano said sexism was always unacceptable.
    "I have always been categorically distant from sexist and vulgar expressions, which I always judge to be unacceptable in any situation and even more so in a place of culture by someone who represents the institutions," Sangiuliano said.
    "Respect for women is a constant of my life.
    "For me, being a conservative means having substance, style and aesthetics in conduct too". (ANSA).