For once I’m moved to write about EU current affairs. If I were an MEP there is no way I could vote for a European Commission that included Rocco Buttiglione in any portfolio near justice and home affairs, let alone human rights. I hope they vote against the proposed new Commission on Wednesday, and have emailed the MEPs who I know and also those representing Flanders to say so.

[Edit: One of the Flemings emailed me back almost immediately to say:

I am sorry, but when a former communist and servant of a totalitarian regime has the right to be a commissioner, I don’t see any reason to refuse Mr Buttiglione, with whom I disagree on many points, to express his opinions.

Well, I wasn’t ever going to vote for him or his party anyway!]

[Edit 2: From one of my liberal friends:

As things stand a majority [of the liberal group] are opposed. Depends on whether enough of my colleagues are either bought off tomorrow or whether Barroso offers enough more by way of a compromise.

He’s fairly sound anyway.]

[Edit 3: two more of my liberal friends confirm they’ll be voting against.]