Showdown vote looms for EC over Buttiglione

European Commission President-designate Jose Barroso says he is sure his team of commissioners will be approved in a vote next week despite continuing objections to the inclusion of Rocco Buttligione.

Barroso offered a compromise to leftist MEP’s angered by the Italian’s views on homosexuals and women. After a meeting with EU parliamentary group leaders he said some of Buttligione’s responsibilities as Justice commisioner would be redistributed. In the meeting Barroso read a letter in which Buttligione expressed regret about saying homosexuality was a sin and that he never intended to offend any one. But it appears not to have convinced many on the left. They cannot veto him individually but they could block the entire commission in next Wednesday’s vote.

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