Updated | Socialists: 'Borg left many open questions'

The group of Socialists & Democrats in the European Parliament have voted to reject Tonio Borg for the post of European Commissioner, but have agreed to give their members a free vote tomorrow in Strasbourg.

The news comes in the wake of a decision by the socialists' political grouping, in which 62 MEPs voted in favour of a statement to reject Borg, against 24.

The socialists, which command 189 seats, are key to the non-binding vote that must approve or reject Borg in a secret ballot tomorrow.

Hannes Swoboda, President of the S&D Group, commented: "The S&D Group acknowledges Mr Borg's performance during his hearing and took note of his declaration that his personal views would not interfere with his duties as Commissioner, if appointed. But gender equality and the rights of women and homosexuals are still under fire from a part of Europe's right wing and the S&D Group wants to see the position filled by someone with a track record on respecting and furthering these rights."

Ahead of today's vote in the European Parliament plenary session, he continued: "Should Mr Borg be confirmed by a majority of the European Parliament, we will co-operate with him in his area of competence. He will then have the duty and opportunity to convince the many citizens who have voiced doubts about his position and his commitment to fundamental rights."

Although greens, liberals and left-wingers in the EP have declared they will reject Borg, it is yet to be seen whether the split inside the socialists' grouping will be enough to reject Borg's appointment - the European People's Party (271) and the European Conservatives and Reformists (52) as well as the right-wing European of Freedom and Democracy (34) are expected to overwhelmingly support Borg.

Borg will need a simple majority of the EP's 754 members.

@hannes_swoboda "Following #SandD Group vote, 2/3 majoritydecision is to reject #BorgEU as health and consumer Commissioner" @europarl_en — S&D Group (@TheProgressives) November 20, 2012

Also today, Greens-EFA co-president Rebecca Harms said that her political group would be rejecting Borg, even though co-president Dani Cohn Bendit was last week revealed that he would support Borg, fearing that more important political issues would be sidelined over Borg's conservative views on gay rights and abortion, amongst other issues.

"We don't think he will really fight for European values or for the European treaties. This scepticism, due to what Mr Borg said about homosexuals, is justified. He is against abortion, against contraception, and I think that Malta does not need such a Catholic commissioner," Harms said.

Arnold Cassola, AD spokesperson on EU and International Affairs, said he had written to the Green group in the European Parliament stating that Alternattiva Demokratika is against Tonio Borg's nomination. "AD is not against Borg's nomination because he is a Catholic but because he has tried to impose his personal views on everybody, with regards to gay rights and divorce, and because he was in favour of Berlusconi's pushback policy of migrants as well as sending Eritrean refugees back home to be tortured as evidenced by Amnesty International and UNHCR..... which goes against the basic teaching of the Catholic church. The personal faith of every person, including Commissioners, should be always respected, whatever it is," Cassola said.

EU Parliament votes Wednesday to confirm appointment of Health Commissioner Tonio Borg.Looks like he may lose. #BorgEU — Chris Davies (@ChrisDaviesMEP) November 20, 2012

Other MEPs, like Liberal MEP Sophie In't Veldt, said she would still vote against Borg despite his letter of assurances: "It is a shame if Mr. Borg feels he has to deny or betray his views. In a political campaign, a candidate should seek support by promoting his political views, not by trying to hide them. Denouncing his earlier views does not make him a more credible candidate. I much prefer a candidate who stands by his views, no matter how much I abhor them. Mr. Borg has tried to assure MEPs of his moderate views, during the confirmation hearing and in a letter. He has made some very positive statements, regarding LGBT rights notably. But of course his track record has to be taken into consideration as well."

Borg's letter to all MEPs this week, professing his belief in the "innate dignity of all, regardless of their sexual orientation or distinctions", was yesterday followed up by an endorsement from Commission President José Manuel Barroso who told EP president Martin Schulz that "a positive vote on Borg's appointment is in our mutual interest".

Barroso said that Borg has "shown that he is fully qualified on the substance matter of the portfolio".

Borg's letter came in the wake of a request by members of the ENVI committee to pledge his full commitment to several of his promises and statements made during a hearing last week, and outlines his promise to MEPs to fight discrimination in all its forms.

In his letter, Borg commits himself to the principle of Article 21 of the European Charter of Fundamental Rights, Article 19 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU, and EU anti-discrimination and case law as fulfillment of his pledge to fight any sort of discrimination, after he was accused of having made homophobic statements in the past.