Socialist EP leader to vote for Borg

The leader of the Socialist Group in the European Parliament Hannes Swoboda this morning said in Strasbourg that he was satisfied with the letter sent by Malta's Commissioner-designate Tonio Borg and he will personally vote for Dr Borg. "I think that with the letter of assurances given by Dr Borg I will be able to vote for him. However we will make sure that he is under constant observance," he said. The Socialist group, whose vote is crucial in the approval of Dr Borg tomorrow, will be meeting later today to take a final position. However, the declaration made by Mr Swoboda this morning paves the way for a positive decision on Malta's commissioner-designate. Admitting that the group is still divided over the appointment of Dr Borg, due to his personal convictions on homophobia and women's rights, Mr Swoboda said that the Maltese Commissioner-designate can be approved although "we will make sure that he keeps to what he has declared in his letter." The final vote on Dr Borg's appointment will be taken tomorrow during the plenary session of the EP in Strasbourg. Dr Borg will need a simple majority of the 754 deputies to be approved.