Tough Lindh warms hearts

Date: 24/05/01

Tough-talking women seem to be the flavour of the month in the EU at the moment. Swedish Foreign Minister Anna Lindh won the hearts of many male admirers at the recent general affairs council meeting when she lost her temper with her Spanish counterpart, Josep Piqué, accusing him of “irresponsibility” for blocking an agreement on the free movement of workers.

Observers said normally straight-laced civil servants were seen to swoon at the sight of Lindh losing her rag at such a tough cookie as Piqué.