BRUSSELS, Nov. 22 (UPI) -- The European Commission was abuzz over a new commissioner on its first day in office Monday after learning he was convicted of embezzlement, the BBC reported.
Although French Commissioner Jacques Barrot, the transport commissioner, was granted amnesty by French President Jacques Chirac for his conviction for party funding offenses in 2000, top lawmakers are calling for his resignation or suspension.
Graham Watson, who leads the Liberal Democrats as the third largest party in the European Parliament, released a statement calling for Barrot's removal.
"To avoid serious damage to the standing of the new commission, I call on Mr. Barrot to resign, or at the very least to ask to be relieved of his duties until this matter can be discussed and resolved," Watson said.
The fresh dispute comes just days after the line-up of the new European Commission was finally settled. Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso had to withdraw the original list of commissioners after objections were raised to Italian nominee Rocco Buttiglione's views on women and homosexuality.
