John Paul II, above all, managed to contain the huge mass of frustration, of hate that had accumulated in that region, in favour of a peaceful transition. This was, without doubt, something that changed European history.

Berlusconi outraged that he had been ousted by the Parliament of Italy unsuccessfully requested new elections. On 11 October the committee voted by 27-26 not to endorse the nomination. The PES ALDE and Green/EFA groups expressed reservations regarding Buttiglione's ability to take positive political action in the area of citizens' rights particularly in regards combating discrimination and threatened to reject the entire proposed Commission.

He served as a minister for EU policies (from 2001 to 2005) and then as Minister for Cultural Assets and Activities (from 2005 to 2006) in Silvio Berlusconi's governments. In 2005 Buttiglione received an honorary doctoral degree for his commitment to the ideas of liberty. Buttiglione is a Professor of political science at Saint Pius V University in Rome and member of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences.