In your piece “PM sits, Chirac stands” (TMIS, 17 September) you tried to ridicule our Prime Minister for remaining seated when greeted by the German Chancellor Ms Angela Merkel contrary to Jacques Chirac, who stood up and kissed her on the cheek.

As equality of the sexes in Europe is now an accepted concept, I think that our Prime Minister is more in line with modern trend that the 70-year-old Jacques Chirac who still adheres to old traditions. I never saw a female stand up when greeted by a male person, so why should the opposite happen. Chirac’s manners still give the impression of inequality to which our females in modern society vehemently object.

Charles Camilleri

Paola