Beoogd commissaris Buttiglione kritisch ontvangen (en)

EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - Rocco Buttiglione faced a barrage of questions today from parliamentarians in his bid to become Commissioner for Interior Affairs.

Appearing before MEPs, the former Italian minister faced tough questions on his moral convictions, allegiances, the record of his government and his time as an MEP.

Sometimes ill-tempered, much of the discourse was low on policy substance, focusing on orientation and the commissioner vice president-designate's outlook.

Facing criticism over his stated views on homosexuality and marriage, Mr Buttiglione's responses - given in English, French, German and Italian - appeared to do little to assuage his critics.

"I may think morally that homosexuality is wrong, but this has no effect on politics, unless I say homosexuality is a crime", he told MEPs.

This brought allegations he had refused to sign legislation in Italy on the basis of his moral convictions.

Ms Buttiglione defended his position: "I am engaged in defending the rights of all Europeans", he said, "I am not willing to say that homosexuals are a case apart and that they should be treated different to other Europeans".

He added however, that because too few children are born in Europe, "it is a little different for the case of women".

The father of four daughters, also stated that, in his view, marriage is for the "protection of the mother_and in order to allow women to have children".

However, he also came under fire for his support for US home affairs policies since 11 September 2001.

In spite of his links with the right-wing American Enterprise Institute, Mr Buttiglione sought to distance himself from the Bush administration's policies.

"We are not twins" he said, adding that the EU could not support policies such as the detention of suspects at Guantanamo Bay.