Mk II Barroso wins – Barrot conviction amnesty surfaces

José Manuel Barroso’s has secured strong support for his new EU executive from the European Parliament.  

He and his team won 66 per cent of votes cast allowing the new European Commission to start work on Monday – three weeks late.  

MEPs voted for the new ‘college’ for commissioners by 449 votes, with 149 votes against and 82 abstentions. 

Barroso’s triumph was overshadowed by a row over French transport commissioner Jacques Barrot. 

UKIP MEP Nigel Farrage attacked Barrot, revealing that the Frenchmen was given a suspended prison sentence in 2000 following a funding scandal involving his political party.

But following a presidential amnesty from Barrot’s political ally Jacques Chirac any reference to the case is illegal – under French law.

 

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