Obama calls for more women in power as ‘men seem to be having problems’

PARIS: Former US President Barack Obama on Saturday called for more women to be put in positions of power “because men seem to be having some problems these days”.

“Not to generalise but women seem to have a better capacity than men do, partly because of their socialisation,” Obama said at an invitation-only event during a visit to Paris.

He didn’t mention any particular male leaders who are currently having problems but spoke of “the importance of more focus on putting women in power, because men seem to be having some problems these days.

Obama was responding to a question about leadership qualities for the future, at the event organised by a network of communications professionals known as “Les Napoleons”.

The two-term Democrat president said he appreciated people who question themselves and those around them.

“How can I make the people around me better? How do I empower them… how do I build a team where everyone’s pulling together to get something done?” Obama said.

Earlier, Speaking to a group of communications and media leaders as well as financiers and academics known as Les Napoleons, Obama regretted what he called a “temporary absence of American leadership” on climate change.

He was referring to Trump’s threat to withdraw from the 2015 Paris climate accord, the day after making similar remarks during a visit to New Delhi.

Trump has said the accord is crippling US business and has called for the agreement to be renegotiated.

Asked to list leadership qualities for the future, Obama advocated “more focus on putting women in power, because men seem to be having some problems these days.”

“Not to generalise, but women seem to have a better capacity than men do, partly because of their socialisation,” said the 56-year-old Democrat who left office in January.

Obama also used the occasion to hone his post-presidential vision of hope and change as he seeks to build support for the foundation he launched in September.