STRASBOURG, France, Oct. 27 (UPI) -- Facing a defeat by EU lawmakers Wednesday, European Commission President-designate Jose-Manuel Barroso delayed a vote on his incoming executive team.
"I have come to the conclusion that if a vote is taken today, the outcome will not be positive for European institutions or for the European project," Barroso told parliamentarians in Strasbourg.
Legislators in the EU assembly threatened to reject the 24-member team of commissioners Tuesday, largely because of provocative remarks made about homosexuals and women by Italian member Rocco Buttiglione.
The Barroso executive had been due to take office Nov. 1. Current commission president Romano Prodi will now stay in office until a new vote is held in the parliament in mid-November. Euro-deputies expect Barroso to reshuffle his team before then to avoid another humiliating climb-down.
