The fate of the new European Commission will be decided next week in what is expected to be a cliffhanger vote in the European Parliament following controversy over Italy's nominee, Rocco Buttiglione.

With the vote, due at 1 to endorse as a whole the team headed by incoming Commission President Jose Manuel Durao Barroso. The Commission needs a simple majority of votes in order to start office early in November.

Buttiglione, a staunch Roman Catholic set to be in charge of justice, immigration and civil liberties issues, was rejected by a parliamentary committee this month for declaring he believed homosexuality was a sin. The Parliament, which has no power to reject individual commissioners, has threatened to veto the new Commission as it deems Buttiglione unfit to deal with human rights.

Other commissioners, including the Netherlands' Neelie Kroes, Denmark's Mariann Fischer Boel and Latvia's Ingrida Udre, have also been criticised. The European Parliament has 732 seats. Following is a breakdown of party members and likely voting intentions. Parliamentary sources say 288-291 lawmakers have already promised to back Barroso while 278-280 are expected to vote against.

PPE – Group of the European People's Party: 268 members. They intend to vote in favour.

PSE – Socialist Group: 200 members. Several members have expressed strong reservations about Barroso's team; the leader of the group has called for a rejection of the Commission.

ALDE – Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe: 88 members. They could swing the vote. Many members have criticised Buttiglione but the group as a whole is supporting Barroso's agenda of economic reforms. Around 63-67 members from Britain, Germany and France will vote against.

Greens – 42 members. A majority of the Greens are likely to vote against because of opposition to Buttiglione. The group has also criticised Hungary's Laszlo Kovacs, the new commissioner in charge of energy.

GUE – Confederal Group of the European United Left: 41 members. This group, representing the extreme left of Parliament, is likely to vote against.

INDDEM – Independence & Democracy Group: 37 members. The group is made up of eurosceptics. The British eurosceptics are likely to vote down the new Commission, while Polish catholic members could express support. Union for Europe of the Nations: 27 right-wing parliamentarians. They have pledged to support Barroso's team. Non attached members: 28. Half of non-attached members have declared they will vote in favour.