EP-voorzitter Borrell kritisch over beoogd commissaris Buttiglione (en)

EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The incoming Italian Commissioner has been strongly criticised by Josep Borrell, the European Parliament chief, for his conservative views on homosexuality and the role of women in society.

"It does not seem to me that in this day and age, we can have people in charge of justice - especially of justice - who think that", said Mr Borrell to French Europe 1 Radio of Rocco Buttiglione.

"In Spain, personally, I would not want to have a justice minister with those views", said said Mr Borrell.

His words came after the Italian on Tuesday (5 October) told MEPs that homosexuality is a sin and that marriage is so that women can have children.

Some MEPs were also outraged by the fact that he appeared to be prepared to let his moral views influence his policy.

"I am ready to seek dialogue, which is normal in a democracy, but if there is a proposal that is contrary to my moral principles, I would oppose it", said the Italian.

Legally, MEPs can only reject the whole team of Commissioners and not individual commissioners.

However, they could ask the incoming Commission president, José Manuel Durao Barroso, to request that Mr Buttiglione withdraw his candidacy.

Who is who?

But, this is all wrapped up in different family politics in the European Parliament and there has been some muttering among groups about why certain Commissioners have been approved and others not.

The European People's Party, to whom Mr Buttiglione belongs, has so far expressed satisfaction with his performance.

"He is an excellent candidate", said a spokesperson "it is just some have chosen to attack him for his religious views".

The Greens and the Socialists, however, are outraged by the Italian's views.

Meanwhile, EPP insiders wonder why the Socialists have given the nod of approval to László Kovács, the new energy commissioner and a Socialist, who was widely seen by conservative and Green MEPs as having given a very poor performance.

The Greens said his hearing was an "offence to the parliament".

"We thought the enquiry was rather heavily focussed on technical issues" countered a Socialist spokesperson referring to Mr Kovacs' hearing.

And the Danish Commissioner, who is Liberal, was given the thumbs up by the Liberal group in the parliament, but slammed by the Greens and the Socialists.

The Socialists said Mariann Fischer-Boel's hearing was "deeply discouraging".

The Commissioners' hearings, which finish on Monday (11 October) will be discussed by the different political groups next week.

Asking for a re-shuffle of the portfolios may be one way of diffusing the strong feeling about Mr Buttiglione, among others, but all groups have so far suggested that it is too early for such a decision to be made.

Mr Barroso will meet with the leaders of the political groups the following week to discuss his team - however that is just days before the parliament as a whole is to vote on the 25-person college.