Malta’s Foreign Minister Tonio Borg will become the third Maltese to occupy the prestigious post of European Commissioner following his approval by a majority of more than 100 votes in the European Parliament yesterday.

I think that we managed to deliver a good result, against all odds

What seemed to be an almost impossible task on Tuesday night, following the decision by the Socialist group to oppose Malta’s nominee, turned out to be a comfortable win, with many MEPs abandoning their party line to vote for Dr Borg.

He will now become Health and Consumer Affairs Commissioner, replacing John Dalli who was unexpectedly forced to resign by the European Commission President José Manual Barroso last month.

“I wasn’t expecting this result especially after the position taken by the Socialists,” Dr Borg told The Times yesterday.

“But when it was all over I heaved a big sigh of relief,” the seasoned politician said from his home in Lija, where he watched the unveiling of his political future live on television.

The drama over the vote on Dr Borg started slightly later than scheduled, as MEPs first had to assist to a prize-giving ceremony for European Films. As the winner, ironically titled Io sono Li (I am there) was announced, the agenda turned to Dr Borg.

Taking the electronic vote twice, as many MEPs did not arrive in time for the first call, the Parliament’s President Marin Schultz announced that Dr Borg had been approved by nearly 56 per cent of the vote (386) in favour and 40 per cent against (281 votes). Another 28 MEPs abstained.

“When I got to know of the position taken by the Socialists on Tuesday night, I thought it was all over,” Dr Borg admitted to this newspaper yesterday.

‘We swayed the undecided in our favour’

“However, with the help of Malta’s MEPs yesterday morning, particularly Simon Busuttil and David Casa, we managed to sway the undecided individuals in our favour.”

EP sources yesterday described the last minute blitz in the corridors of the Strasbourg building by Dr Busuttil and Mr Casa yesterday morning, meeting individual MEPs from the Socialist, Liberal and Conservative groups to convince them to give their vote to Malta’s nominee.

“As soon as the Socialists decided to take a position against Dr Borg, we started phoning all the MEPs we knew from the other groups to assure them he is a reliable person and can be given this job,” Dr Busuttil said.

“David (Casa) dealt with the conservatives, and managed to win many of them over, while I took on the Socialists and Liberals. I think that we managed to deliver a good result, against all odds,” he said.

Dr Busuttil said that the four Labour MEPs also played their part in the past weeks to help Dr Borg “and it was unfortunate that the majority of the Socialist MEPs didn’t take their side.”

Labour’s head of delegation Louis Grech was not available for comment following the vote.

After the positive recommendation by the EP yesterday, the nomination of the new Maltese Commissioner is now expected to be approved by the Council, which represents the 27 governments – by the end of this week.

When this happens, Dr Borg is expected to resign as minister and Member of Parliament.

“I still need to consult the Prime Minister but I can start work in Brussels as soon as I am confirmed by the Council,” he said.

“Since I’ve been an MP for the last 20 years it is my wish to address Parliament for the last time before it’s all over,” Dr Borg said.

Dr Borg’s confirmation process at the European Parliament was gruelling. He faced unprecedented opposition due to his beliefs, which some thought to be incongruous with European values.

Apart from campaigns against his nomination organised by pro-gay, lesbian and abortion NGOs, Dr Borg could only rely on the political support of the EPP, as the other big political forces in the EP, including the Socialists, Liberals and Greens, all turned their guns against him.

After the approval, many organisations and political groups including the PN, PL and Alternattiva Demokratika issued congratulatory statements . Dr Borg is expected to serve in the Barroso commission until its mandate ends in October 2014.