But why not look to Albania?! During a taped parliamentary debate, the following incident happened:
After Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha announced that he wants to appoint the daughter of Albanian Republican Party leader Sabri Godo, Socialist deputy Taulant Balla said in a speech:
"Now that Godo's daughter ... has been appointed minister, the Prime Minister will have problems at home because his own daughter will ask to become a minister, or even a prime minister."The Prime Minister's reaction who directly intervenes in Balla's speech is more than, well, unusual:
First:
"What will happen to you sister, a lowlife, a prostitute in motels will end."And then screaming:
[I only found this bad translation.]
"You should know that I'll kill you! You won't make it alive into parliament again! I will kill you!"
[Source]
Such stories always remind me about the reason why I am such a big fan of Europe: It's cultural differences, stupid!
PS: Depending on your proficiency in Albanian, you can also watch the incident on Youtube.
2 comments:
Maybe it's cultural differences, and maybe not. While what happened in Albania is unlikely to take place in a western European parliament, the subject of daughters, sisters and mothers when talked about by a male who is not an immediate relative is quite sensitive no matter the place in Europe one hears this. Recall Zidane's head-butt during the World Cup in 2006, when the Italian Materazzi insulted Zidane's sister and mother.
Some things are common to all, be they French or Albanian.
Well, maybe - even though I think that such reactions are still very much shaped through culture.
But that a Prime Minister shows such a reaction is still quite unusual, be it culturally influenced or not... :-)
Post a Comment