Vitorino backs anti-gay Italian to take his job

Europe’s outgoing Commissioner for Justice and Home Affairs tonight backed anti-gay Italian Rocco Buttiglione to take over the job as planned and not step down because of his personal views.

Portuguese Socialist Antonio Vitorino said he did not agree with the anti-gay opinions of the staunch Catholic Italian right-winger, but said personal moral beliefs should not interfere with the Commission’s handling of issues of fundamental rights and civil liberties.