A fashion war has broken out in Spanish politics.
Industry Minister Miguel Sebastian showed up at parliament this week without a tie. Parliamentary speaker Jose Bono of the ruling Socialist Party took offense at this attire for a cabinet minister and quickly sent Sebastian a gift: a tie, with a note that read, "I hope you like it."
Sebastian declined to wear the tie and the next day responded with a present for Bono: a digital thermometer.
It was Sebastian's way of saying the air conditioning was on too strongly at the Congress of Deputies, despite a 2007 decree to keep government buildings warmer in summer to save energy.
That's what Sebastian is doing at his ministry.
Wearing a tie at parliament is not mandatory - some opposition lawmakers don't do it - but Spanish media say this was the first time a male government minister showed up for a debate without one.
Bono tried to downplay the exchange, but by then it was too late.
Socialist Party spokesman Jose Blanco said it was silly to try to force government ministers into "uniforms" with neckties.
The opposition also found time to pour fuel on the fire. "The time to go without a tie is on weekends," said Inaki Anasagasti of the Basque Nationalist Party.
(AP)
西班牙政界爆發一場服裝戰爭。
產業部部長麥奎爾．薩巴斯汀本週未打領帶出席國會。執政的社會黨國會議長荷西．柏諾對閣員這樣的穿著感到不悅，他立刻送給薩巴斯汀一個禮物：一條領帶，還附上一張紙條寫著：「希望你會喜歡。」
薩巴斯汀拒絕打上這條領帶，並在隔天回送柏諾一個禮物：一個電子溫度計。
薩巴斯汀用這種方式表達他對眾議會冷氣開太強的意見；議會無視政府去年要求各機關大樓在夏日將冷氣溫度調高、響應節能的命令。
薩巴斯汀主管的產業部就恪遵這項規定。
國會並沒有硬性規定出席者必須打領帶，像有些反對黨的國會議員就不打領帶，但據西班牙媒體報導，這是該國史上頭一遭男性政府閣員沒有打領帶出席國會辯論。
柏諾本想淡化處理這起互贈禮物事件，可是為時已晚。
社會黨發言人荷西．布蘭寇表示，試圖強迫內閣閣員配戴領帶實在很無聊。
在野黨也趁機火上加油，巴斯克國家黨的伊納基．阿納薩加斯提說：「只有週末才不用打領帶。」
（美聯社／翻譯：袁星塵）