European Commissioner for digital economy and society Gunther Oettinger | Emmanuel Dunand/AFP via Getty Images Oettinger remarks about Chinese diplomats raise eyebrows The European Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society criticized for remarks at public event.

Günther Oettinger raised eyebrows Friday when remarks he made earlier in the week about Chinese diplomats and gay marriage went public.

"Last week, the Chinese ministers were in town for the annual China-EU summit. Nine men, one party. No democracy. No female quota. No women," the European Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society said, according to excerpts posted online Friday. "All of them in dark blue, single-breasted suits. All of them had their hair combed from left to right, with black shoe-polish."

Oettinger, who was speaking at a EuropaAbend event in Hamburg on Wednesday, also mockingly said he wouldn't be surprised if German Chancellor Angela Merkel's government introduced “forced gay marriage.”

And he took a jab at former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder and CSU-chief Horst Seehofer, describing Seehofer as "populist light" and joking that Schröder now has time on his hands because Nord Stream 2 "will not be built and his wife is gone."

The former German Chancellor's fourth marriage recently ended in divorce.

Also Friday, the Commission said that Oettinger would take over the portfolio of outgoing Commissioner Kristalina Georgieva, who has overseen the budget and administrative portfolio since 2014. Those duties include oversight of institution personnel.