BRUSSELS, November 22, 2012 (LifeSiteNews.com) – A consortium of pro-abortion and anti-family groups, including some MEPs, had campaigned against the appointment of Dr. Tonio Borg as EU Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection. However, despite their opposition, Dr. Borg was approved this morning by the European Parliament after a series of hearings in which he was grilled on his opinions on “gay marriage,” divorce and abortion. Dr. Borg, who will leave his post as Deputy Prime Minister of Malta, was affirmed by a majority vote of 386 in favor to 281 against, with 28 abstentions.
The EU watchdog group European Dignity Watch commented that the decision is “a great day for Europe’s democracy,” and a sign that there is room in the EU for a “wide range” of political opinion.
Dr. Borg, they said, was affirmed, “Despite the attempts of intolerant special interest groups to discredit Borg because of his personal beliefs.”
“Today the fundamental principles of the European Union — subsidiarity, freedom of conscience and free speech — have been affirmed.”
“The vote is a clear statement that most Europeans do not want the narrow and intolerant social agenda that some vocal lobby groups advocated for in their campaign against Tonio Borg.”
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The European Humanist Federation, the International Lesbian and Gay Association – Europe, and International Planned Parenthood Federation had attacked Borg, releasing a report to MEPs condemning his “staunchly conservative and outdated” views on homosexuality, divorce and abortion. They particularly objected to his support for the pro-life NGO Gift of Life, whose mission includes, “making it harder for abortion to ever be legalised in Malta”.
Swedish MEP Cecilia Wikström told a television interviewer that Borg is “not a commissioner but a dinosaur”.
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