Twitter users hit back at sexists comments
Harvard PhD Elsa Artadi, possible successor to Puigdemont, is described as "yoga devotee" and "runaway bride" in press reports that focus on her not having children instead of her qualifications
Catalonia might have a female President –or not. But sexist comments about her are already flooding certain press articles and causing outrage in Twitter. Elsa Artadi, one of Carles Puigdemont's closest allies, could be installed as new Catalan President if plans to reinstate him do not succeed, according to some reports. Although she has repeatedly said she has no intention to become the next president, she is now in the eye of the media storm.
Artadi, 42, is a doctorate from Harvard, former teacher at the University Bocconi in Milan and worked as a consultant at the World Bank in Casablanca. She was advisor to the former Catalan Economy Minister and also Harvard doctorate Andreu Mas-Colell, and worked as Coordinator of Ministries at the Puigdemont's government, a high-ranking post that, however, kept her away from the cameras.
Despite this remarkable resume, and unlike what happens with male candidates, Elsa Artadi's profiles in the press tend to focus on her private life, her clothes, shoes or yoga classes rather than her qualifications. Even the leader of the conservative PP in Catalonia, Xavier García-Albiol, said that Artadi has "no political or institutional experience" and could "not aspire to so much." She being president would equate, he said, to the Catalan government institution "falling very low." García-Albiol was once already under fire for some sexist comments about the ballot boxes of the independence referendum: "They are similar to my wife's laundry basket," he said.