Brussels, 05/02/2008 (Agence Europe) - Italy seems to be heading for early general elections in April 2008 and EU Justice, Freedom and Security Commissioner Franco Frattini may join the election campaign on behalf of his party Forza Italia. This would require a redistribution of powers at the European Commission, on a temporary basis at least, while Frattini is campaigning. This option was used by Louis Michel, EU Development Commissioner, who took unpaid leave recently to fight the general elections in Belgium. He was absent from the European Commission from 12 May 2007 to 10 June 2007 and was replaced at the Commission during that time by Commissioner Olli Rehn. Michel returned to his job as EU Commissioner after the elections. A Commission spokesperson said the question was hypothetical at this stage but on Tuesday 5 February, sources close to Frattini said it would be hard to imagine Berlusconi wanting to do without Frattini during the election campaign. The same source said the same would apply to a potential government position for Frattini in the event that the centre right won the elections in Italy. (A.B.)