The Polish member of the European Parliament made the comments in relation to pay inequity.
A Polish member of the European Parliament defended gender pay inequity this week by commenting derisively about women's abilities in general.
"Do you know how many women are in the first hundred of chess players?" Janusz Ryszard Korwin-Mikke said Wednesday, according to footage of his comments in the parliamentary chamber. "I tell you: no one."
He then continued: "And 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."
Audible gasps could be heard in the chamber afterward.
Korwin-Mikke's comments came to broader attention Thursday after the Socialists and Democrats Group in the European Parliament released the footage, according to The Washington Post..
A female Spanish lawmaker, Iratxe Garcia-Perez, immediately responded to the remarks.
"Well, according to what you're saying, and according to your theory, I wouldn't have the right to be here as a member of parliament," she said. "And I know that you are very upset, and very concerned about the fact that we women can represent citizens on an equal footing with you."
She then closed by saying her role was to defend women against men who hold views similar to Korwin-Mikke's.
Korwin-Mikke has had a colorful and controversial political career. He could face punishment such as a reprimand, fine or suspension for his comments, according to the Post.
In 2014, Korwin-Mikke said France's Marine Le Pen – a current well-polling candidate for French president who is generally seen as a hard-liner – rejected forming an alliance with his party in the parliament, deeming it too extreme.
