Five years ago ! Three failed commissioners

(B2) It was 5 years ago... The Italian commissioner Rocco Buttillion candidate for the post of Justice makes an inappropriate statement about homosexuals. He doesn't really apologize.

The business goes up

Parliament wants another portfolio assigned to him. The Italian government refuses, despite José-Manuel Barroso's request. He is trying to save the day by setting up a committee of commissioners around the Italian in charge of fundamental rights. Insufficient, and too late! It is the very change of the Italian commissioner that becomes necessary. And even more.

The kiss of death

Over the hours, the dubbing of the Commission seems to be compromised. It is, in fact, only hanging by a thread: the extreme right. MEP Jean-Claude Martinez (National Front) gives the Commission the kiss of death by announcing that he would support it.

Three changes

At the last minute, José-Manuel Barroso withdrew the composition of the college and then reshuffled it. Franco Frattini replaces Buttiglione.

Another commissioner is changed. The Latvian Ingrida Udre - member of the Union of Greens and Farmers - did not show very strong European enthusiasm. In addition, she is involved in a case of illicit financing of her party. Supported above all by the Prime Minister, it has been weakened by the resignation of the government in the meantime. It is quickly replaced by Andris Piebalgs. Lhe Latvian government having been less stubborn (and smaller) than the Italian. And the less publicized case.

As for the Hungarian commissioner Laszlo Kovacs, he was not convinced at the post of Energy and changed portfolio with precisely the Latvian Andris Piebalgs, normally in charge of Taxation.

From this case, only "the Buttiglione case" was retained. But the European Parliament had indeed sent 'ball' three commissioners.

(Nicolas Gros-Verheyde)