Mr Barroso decided to withdraw his proposed commission as a rejection vote was evident.

Following the refusal of Buttiglione to follow yesterday Berluscioni 'advice' to withdraw from the proposed commission, Mr Barroso decided not to put his proposed commission to vote today as a negative vote would have be unavoidable.

The actual Prodi commission agreed to stay as long as it will take to Mr. Barroso to review and modify the new commission composition.

The evident modification will be the removal from Buttiglione.

For those unaware of the issue (I don't think there is any but...) Buttiglione had repeatedly held unacceptable speech on women's position in society (they only exist to procreate and stay at home) and homosexuality ("it's a sin").

This is really good news for all the campaigners that expressed their disgust and a blatant defeat for the theo-cons and the Vatican.