Brussels, Belgium, Oct 12, 2004 / 22:00 pm
Incoming European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso reasserted his confidence in his entire team of designated commissioners on Tuesday after the European Parliament’s Civil Liberties Committee rejected Italy’s Rocco Buttiglione, Italian Catholic politician and friend of Pope John Paul II.
“Mr. Barroso maintains his confidence in the whole team, which of course includes Mr. Buttiglione,” Pia Ahrenkilde Hansen, a spokeswoman for Barroso’s team said at a news conference.
The committee narrowly rejected the designation of Mr. Buttiglione as justice and security commissioner on account of his Catholic views on homosexuality and marriage, which outraged liberal deputies at a hearing last week, as well as his affirmation that he would not support any legislative proposal contrary to his moral views.
Many lawmakers have said that his views make him unsuitable to be put in charge of legislative proposals to combat discrimination on grounds of gender and sexual orientation.