The EU Commission nominee who sparked uproar with his comments on homosexuality and women, has decided not to accept the position.
Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, was forced to withdraw his nomination for the 25-person committee when it became clear that MEPs would ratify the line-up because of Mr Rocco Buttiglione's nomination as Home Affairs and Justice Commissioner.
Mr Buttiglione was Italy's nominated commissioner but having publicly stated that homosexulaity is a sin and that married women should stay at home to rear children, many MEPs found him unsuitable to hold a portfolio that encompassed rights.
He made the announcement to withdraw at a news conference hours after Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi indicated he was withdrawing Buttiglione as Italy's nominee for the Justice commissioner post.
"I am ready to step aside to favour the path of the Barroso commission, which I wish every success," Mr Buttiglione read from a statement.
It had been speculated that Mr Buttiglione might be moved to a different position in the Commission but Mr Berlusconi said last night he would likely find another nominee for the EU post.
He said Mr Buttiglione would retain his current post as Italy's minister for European affairs. The Italian premier said the decision was taken after he met mr Barroso and other European leaders, who were in Rome to sign the EU constitution.
Mr Buttiglione, a Catholic who is confidante of Pope John Paul II, said today he was a victim of and "ably orchestrated campaign".
"I may think that homosexuality is a sin, but politics doesn't have to get involved in that," he told reporters. He described himself as a victim of an because of his conservative views.
Under EU guidelines, the Parliament cannot vote out individual nominees for the Commission, but must vote on the group as a whole.
Faced with an almost certain rejection on Wednesday, Mr Barroso withdrew the entire team. The new Commission was to have taken office Monday.
AP