Commissioner Frattini takes leave to run in Italian elections[fr][de] 

Parliamentary elections in Italy will take place on 13-14 April, with the polls showing Berlusconi's Popolo della Libertad (PdL) in the lead. Frattini had already served as foreign minister under then-prime minister Berlusconi from 2002 until 2004 before he became commissioner. 

In order to run in the elections, Frattini will take unpaid leave from 14 March until 15 April. Commission Vice President in charge of Transport Jacques Barrot will assume his functions in the meantime.

Frattini's announcement came just one week after Cypriot Health Commissioner Markos Kyprianou decided to give up his mandate with the EU executive to become foreign minister at home after Cyprus had elected a new president (EurActiv 29/02/08, 25/02/08). 

Meanwhile Commission President José Manuel Barroso has already accepted Cypriot MP Androula Vassiliou as Kyprianou's successor. She still requires the approval of the European Parliament. 

"Changes are normal in politics. If commissioners accept high national posts, this only shows their political and personal skills," Barroso's spokesman Johannes Laitenberger said after Kypranou's decision. 

If Frattini steps down, President Barroso would lose one of his most influential commissioners, with further candidates possibly following in the coming months. 

What's more, according to Commission officials, Maltese Fisheries Commissioner Joe Borg has expressed his intention to make a political career in his home country after last weekend's parliamentary elections in Malta. 

Moreover, Spanish Economics and Monetary Affairs Commissioner Joaquin Almunia might be forced to leave in 2009, when the Lisbon Treaty is due to come into force after being ratified in all 27 member states. 

The new treaty provides for the High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy, currently the Spaniard Javier Solana, to also become Vice-President of the Commission in charge of external relations. If Solana is to stay in office, Almunia will have to leave, since each member state is only entitled to one commissioner. 

The new Commission will come into office on 1 November 2009.