Janusz Korwin-Mikke

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Janusz Korwin-Mikke, who is no longer an MEP, was suspended and lost his parliamentary allowances after making the extraordinary remarks in 2017. But judges the European Court of Justice (ECJ) have ruled the remarks did not merit the punishment because they did not risk causing disorder or racial hatred. They said the sanctions breached Mr Korwin-Mikke's right to free speech and ordered his forfeited allowances of £8,000 to be repaid.

Women must earn less than men because they are weaker, smaller and less intelligent Janusz Korwin-Mikke

The Luxembourg-based judged said: "Despite the particularly shocking nature of the applicant's words, the parliament was not, in the present case, entitled to impose any disciplinary sanctions under its rules of procedure. "The court therefore annuls the decisions of the European Parliament's administration contested by Mr Korwin-Mikke." Officials now have two months to appeal and European Parliament president Antonio Tajani said he was exploring ways to keep the punishments in place.

Janusz Korwin-Mikke successfully challenged his punishment in Europe's highest court

The Italian described the ruling as “incomprehensible” and said: “It was, and is, only right and proper to punish those who consider women to be inferior.” Mr Korwin-Mikke prompted outrage with his sexist comments during a debate on gender equality last March and then tired to justify them by pointing out there are no women chess players within the world’s top 100. He was confronted by a female Spanish colleague who sparked applause as she told him: “I need to defend European women against men like you.”

Janusz Korwin-Mikke has previous for outrageous comments