The 74-year-old, who has his own party named Poland’s Coalition for the Renewal of the Republic–Liberty and Hope, said: “Of course women must earn less than men because they are weaker, they are smaller, they are less intelligent, they must earn less, that’s all.” 
 
 JANEK SKARZYNSKI via Getty Images Janusz Korwin-Mikke said women should be paid less 'because they are weaker, smaller and less intelligent' 
 
 Spanish MEP Iratxe Garcia Perez was quick to admonish him. Image copyright S&D tweet Image caption Spanish Socialist MEP Iratxe Garcia-Perez voiced fury at Mr Korwin-Mikke for belittling women 
 
 Mr Korwin-Mikke - an independent MEP with his own political party - has been censured before by the parliament. "I know it hurts and worries you that today women can sit in this house and represent European citizens with the same rights as you," she said. He was suspended in 2015 for making a Nazi salute in the parliamentary chamber and has also been punished for using racist language. Full video: 
 
 "European Parliament President Antonio Tajani has started an investigation which may result in sanctions against Polish MEP Janusz Korwin-Mikke for sexist remarks made during the plenary session on Wednesday night," said a European Parliament spokesman.
– A member of the European Parliament is facing possible punishment after stating that women "must earn less than men because they are weaker, smaller, and less intelligent," the BBC reports. According to the Huffington Post, the statement was made by 74-year-old Janusz Korwin-Mikke while the parliament was discussing the gender pay gap. Korwin-Mikke is an independent member of parliament who founded his own right-wing political party, Poland's Renewal of the Republic—Freedom and Hope, CNN reports. His statement may have broken the European Parliament's rules against racist, xenophobic, or defamatory conduct, for which Korwin-Mikke could be fined or suspended. Other parliamentary members quickly spoke out against Korwin-Mikke's statement. One member from the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party said she would defend European women against men like Korwin-Mikke. And London Labour parliamentary member Seb Dance tells the Independent that Korwin-Mikke, who he calls a nationalist and extremist, "crossed a line and must lose the right to be taken seriously on anything." Korwin-Mikke has been punished by the European Parliament in the past for likening migrants arriving in Europe to "excrement" and giving a Nazi salute in front of the parliament. He's previously said women shouldn't have the right to vote and was investigated for incitement to rape.