Relativism should be confronted where it damages fundamental human rights, because we're not relativists if we believe that the human being should be at the centre of society and the rights of every human being should be respected.

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.