By Brian Johnson - 21st October 2004
Europe’s newspapers focus on José Manuel Barroso’s high-risk gamble with the future of his European Commission
By refusing to sack controversial new justice commissioner Rocco Buttiglione, the new Brussels chief may face a protest vote in the European Parliament next Wednesday.
Socialist, Liberal and Green MEPs are not satisfied with moves by Barroso to soothe concerns and could reject his entire EU executive.
Buttiglione has outraged MEPs with unapologetic, conventional Catholic views on gays, women and the family.
His traditional opinions on the role of women in the home or his belief that homosexuality is a sin have sparked an inter-institutional row.
MEPs argue that the Italian’s politics rule him out of a brief that upholds anti-discrimination measures enshrined in the EU’s Charter of Fundamental Rights.
Italian daily, Corriere Della Sera, publishes an interview with Buttiglione, where rounds on his tormentors.
“If I said that I loved children they would accuse me of being a paedophile,” says the besieged Italian.
La Repubblica calls on Buttiglione to resign. “It would be the only decent gesture, for him, Italy and the European commission,” suggests an editorial.
Barroso has promised MEPs he will personally set-up and run an anti-discrimination taskforce involving the work of four other commissioners.
But Italian reform minister Roberto Calderoli is not impressed with the decision to spread responsibility for Buttiglione’s human rights role.
“What do we need four of them for, to put one in charge of the heteros, one for the lesbians, one for the homosexuals and one of the transexuals?” he asks.
FT Europe’s ‘Observer’ dubs the commission chief, ‘President Bricolage’ for his do-it-yourself solutions, suggesting that he may as well just hold all 24 policy portfolios himself.
Guardian Europe criticises Barroso for creating confusion by leaving Buttiglione with his complete portfolio, rather than switching him to another job.
And UK Liberal MEP Sarah Ludford is quoted as saying that Barroso’s decision had made Buttiglione a "castrato".
Le Monde, the Independent, and others, report that the Liberals, the third largest political bloc of MEPs, could hold the key to the vote.
FT Europe suggests that Barroso will have to “twist arms” to achieve a parliamentary majority, and the newspaper expects national pressure from British, German and Spanish governments to come into play.
Josep Borrell, European Parliament president tells La Stampa that Buttiglione was chosen by Rome not Barroso and MEPs are of the opinion that he is not the right person to be the future justice commissioner.
Click here to read the full press review - subscribe to this FREE bulletin
Have your say...
Please enter your comments below.