Buttiglione ends controversy by withdrawing his candidacy

ITALY/EU: Italy's controversial EU Commissioner-designate, Mr Rocco Buttiglione, withdrew his candidacy on Saturday, ending …

ITALY/EU: Italy's controversial EU Commissioner-designate, Mr Rocco Buttiglione, withdrew his candidacy on Saturday, ending a three-week whirlwind of controversy prompted by his traditionalist Catholic views on homosexuality and women.

Throughout last Friday, on the occasion of the formal signing of the EU Constitution in Rome, there had been widespread speculation among EU bureaucrats, diplomats and the media that Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi would drop the controversial ex-Christian Democrat.

On Saturday morning Mr Buttiglione confirmed that the speculation had been correct, calling a news conference in Rome to announce his resignation. Claiming that he had been the object of an "orchestrated campaign", he said he had written a letter of resignation last Tuesday but had been asked to withdraw it by the EPP (Popular Party) which had told him they would vote against the new Commission of incoming President José Manuel Barroso if it did not contain Mr Buttiglione.

In a lengthy interview in yesterday's Rome daily, La Repubblica, Mr Buttiglione touched on some of the issues underlying the polemics prompted by his remarks to the effect that homosexuality was "a sin" and that a woman's role was to have children within the protection of the family. He claimed that commentators and political opponents had deliberately failed to acknowledge that in his hearing at the European parliament last month, he had distinguished between his personal beliefs and his political actions, between morality and legislation.

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"I said I may think that it is a sin but only in as much as it is of no interest to anyone what I think because even if I think it is a sin, I know it is not a crime and, therefore, the state shouldn't go poking its nose into it.You don't respect the freedom of others with the relativism of those who believe in nothing."

Mr Buttiglione's impassioned self defence did not meet with widespread approval. His cabinet colleague, welfare minister Roberto Maroni, of the Northern League, said: "For him to say that it has all been brought about by a plot against him is disingenuous. He walked himself into it."

Following Mr Buttiglione's resignation, Prime Minister Berlusconi now faces a difficult task since he will not only have to find a suitable alternative as Italian Commissioner but he will also have to operate a cabinet reshuffle since Mr Buttiglione can hardly be expected to hold onto his current government post of Minister for EU Affairs.

The favourite to succeed Mr Buttiglione is the current foreign minister, Franco Frattini, of Forza Italia. If he moves to Brussels, then his place at the foreign office may go to current Deputy Prime Minister Gianfranco Fini, leader of Alleanza Nazionale.

Another possible candidate for Brussels is the current education minister, Ms Letizia Moratti. Her appointment to the EU Commission would open up a possible new role for Mr Buttiglione who, on more than one occasion, has indicated he would like the job of education minister.

Further EU-related problems may come Mr Berlusconi's way via the Northern League which over the weekend called for a referendum to be held on the new EU constitution. Previously it had been expected that Italian ratification of the constitution in parliament would be relatively straightforward. Mr Berlusconi had even expressed the hope that Italy would be the first country to formally ratify it.