A European Parliament committee has narrowly rejected Italian Rocco Buttiglione as the EU's next Justice and Security Commissioner.
The move is seen as an embarrassing blow to the head of the bloc's incoming executive.
The move by the Civil Liberties Committee is not binding on Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, whose team will take office on 1 November.
The Civil Liberties Committee expressed dismay over Mr Buttiglione's conservative views on homosexuality and the role of women.
