[JURIST] Rocco Buttiglione (BBC profile here), European Commission President-designate Jose Manuel Barroso's controversial nominee as Commissioner for Justice, Freedom, and Security in the new European Commission, announced his withdrawal from consideration Saturday. The EU Parliament has the right to reject proposed candidates, but only by rejecting the list as a whole. MEPs had threatened to reject the entire list unless Buttiglione's name was removed, and Barroso had pulled his slate of Commissioners from an EU vote earlier this week when it became clear that the slate would be rejected. Buttiglione received harsh criticism after making conservative statements about homosexuality and marriage. There is speculation that Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini will replace Buttiglione as Barroso's nominee to the Commission. JURIST's Paper Chase has background. BBC News has more.