ROME – The powerful lobby that tripped Buttiglione can safely meet in an elevator. Because there are two of them: Richard Gottardi, co-president of the European section of Ilga (the International Lesbian and Gay Association) and Franco Grillini, DS MP and former president of Arcigay.
Rocco Buttiglione
The poisoned apple was a dossier, prepared by Gottardi based on material from GayNews, the online newspaper run by Grillini, which annually collected the pearls of Buttiglione's thought. Sent in the last week of September, the dossier landed on the desks of MEPs in Strasbourg, who were scheduled to hear the candidate for commissioner at hearings on October 5th and 6th. The dossier included, in sequence, the Italian minister's remarks on women, abortion, embryos, and homosexuals. The list began with the decree implementing Directive 2000/78/EC, in which Buttiglione, Minister for Community Policies, overrides European standards, which allow for selection based on age and disability, to introduce other "characteristics related to a person's religion, personal beliefs, or sexual orientation." The decree is precise: "The evaluation of the aforementioned characteristics does not constitute an act of discrimination where they are relevant for the purposes of suitability for carrying out the functions that the armed forces and the police, penitentiary and rescue services may be called upon to exercise.".
Even the emergency services... be wary of the outstretched hand of a gay man, perhaps even a Muslim, and a few anti-globalization ideas! Among the quotes offered to MEPs, a particularly tempting commentary on Cardinal Biffi's speech on the need to prioritize Catholic immigrants was: "If, in deciding the quotas for workers coming to Italy, the crime rates of different groups were taken into account," the minister stated on September 13, 2000, "we would discover that some have a high crime rate, while others have a very low one and are capable of integrating. The latter are Catholics and Christians..."«
Gottardi also added to the dossier a couple of outline questions to submit to the candidate commissioner. The thorniest concerned the principle of mutual recognition among European states regarding "family and civil relations and marital status." For the future commissioner—the poisonous question sounded—will the principle also be "fully inclusive of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people?" So Rocco went to war.
The rest is well known. Up to the minister's mea culpa regarding homosexual "sin.".
From "Corriere della Sera" of 22.10.04
Barroso's paper, Buttiglione's role reduced
Letter from the Commissioner: It's a mistake to talk about gay sin. Yes from the EPP and the right, but the PES and Liberals stand firm.
BRUSSELS – Barroso is tweaking Rocco Buttiglione's responsibilities, appointing him a "committee" to deal with "non-discrimination," but is leaving him, or rather, would like to leave him, in the position of Commissioner for "Justice, Freedom, and Security." The new European Commission president appeared before party group leaders yesterday with a "technical" proposal, accompanied by a letter of apology from Buttiglione to Barroso himself. The "package," however, does not appear to be enough to secure a majority in the European Parliament. If there were a football pools bet, the "triple" (1, X, 2) would be mandatory: currently, any outcome is possible in next Wednesday's vote of confidence in Strasbourg. Barroso says he is "certain" of passing.
VOTE AT RISK – Yesterday, however, it received only two clear "yes" votes. That of Hans-Gert Pöttering, representing the EPP (268 votes), who must contend with the disengagement of the British Conservatives (28 seats) who are leaning toward abstention; and that of Brian Crowley, representing the right (UEN, Union for National Europe, 27 MEPs). The PSE, the Greens, and the United Left voted clearly against it. Even a large portion of the Liberal Democrats consider Barroso's move "insufficient." The procedure complicates matters: MEPs will have to decide, in an open vote, on the entire Commission. However, yesterday Barroso said he has no intention of returning to Portugal even if the vote is rejected. The new president has received parliamentary confidence individually, and therefore the Treaty allows him to run again with a new team. In the meantime, the outgoing Commission, led by Romano Prodi, would remain in office.
THE HAT ON BUTTIGLIONE – Barroso immediately got to the point, namely the "Buttiglione case." He said that "a large part of the problem" is tied to the use of the word "sin," with which the Italian minister had defined homosexuality in moral-religious terms. "It's not a definition that's useful in politics," said the new president, "and I don't have enough theological expertise to go any further." The Portuguese then waved Buttiglione's message, reading the most self-critical passage to journalists: "Dear Mr. President, I am deeply sorry for the difficulties and problems that have arisen as a result of my hearing before the Committee on Civil Liberties. I did not intend in any way to offend anyone's feelings, and in particular those of women and homosexuals." Then, answering questions, Barroso made it clear that he himself had requested this letter of clarification. He reveals that he chose Buttiglione also thanks to the advice of the current Commissioner for Justice and Home Affairs, his Portuguese compatriot, "but secular and socialist," Antonio Vitorino.
SALVATION COMMITTEE – After a lengthy political debate, Barroso has unveiled his "operational" proposal. Buttiglione will no longer be the sole head of the section dealing with "fundamental rights" and "non-discrimination between citizens." These responsibilities, which will be supplemented by those on "equal opportunities," will fall under the "supervision" of a committee of commissioners, composed of Sweden's Margot Wallström (Institutional Relations and Communication Strategy), Czech Vladimir Spidla (Employment, Social Affairs, and Equal Opportunities), and, finally, Buttiglione himself. Essentially, the Italian minister will not disappear from the "Public Freedoms" agenda, but he will not be able to act alone. "I recognize," Buttiglione himself writes in the letter, "that measures on the principle of non-discrimination... fall within the remit of the entire Commission. And I accept the direct supervision and guarantee of the President." Barroso concluded: "I will have direct political responsibility for civil liberties and non-discrimination.".
SOCIALIST WALL – The reaction from the PSE group leader, Martin Schulz, was harsh, essentially accusing Barroso of "trying to make a mockery of Parliament." Schulz once again called for a "change of portfolio" for Buttiglione and, responding to reporters, denied there was "any connection" to the now-historical disagreement with Silvio Berlusconi ("You could be acting like a kapo"). The Liberal Democrats are also disappointed, with group leader Graham Watson observing that "Barroso's proposal isn't enough." At this point, Watson added, "It would be better if Buttiglione resigned.".
