Vote delayed as Parliament forces rethink by Barroso

12.00.00am GMT Wed 27th Oct 2004

Commenting on the decision to delay a parliamentary vote on the new EU Commission following a request by the new Commission president, South East MEP Chris Huhne said:

"This is a wise decision by Jose Manuel Barroso. Although the vote would have been close, he probably would have lost. This delay now gives him time to come back with a reshuffle of responsibilities that will ensure majority approval.

"Liberal Democrats made it clear yesterday that we will vote against the Commission because Rocco Buttiglione is not an acceptable person to be in charge of the justice and home affairs portfolio. When Mr Buttiglione was an Italian minister, he attempted to amend the charter of fundamental rights to exclude sexual orientation from the grounds on which individuals can be protected from discrimination. He has also displayed a breath-taking insensitivity in his recent remarks, particularly about single parents.

"Individual rights and freedoms are a core part of the EU's guarantees, and Mr Buttiglione is not the right person to protect them" said Mr Huhne.

Note to editors: The 88 strong Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) voted by 50 to 23 votes to vote against the new Commission unless Mr Buttiglione was removed from responsibility for the protection of individual rights.