Brussels, 26/03/2008 (Agence Europe) - The current interior minister of Italy, Giuliano Amato, is said to be well-placed to succeed Franco Frattini as European commissioner for justice, security and freedom. Mr Frattini will be on leave until 15 April to take part in the campaigning of his party, Forza Italia, during the early legislative elections in Italy to be held on 13 and 14 April (EUROPE 9618). If his party does not win the elections, Mr Frattini may return. If it does and if, as many predict, Mr Frattini were offered the foreign affairs or home affairs portfolio, then the new president of the Council would have to suggest a successor. How would candidate Giuliano Amato be placed? “We cannot make any objection to that. (…) Mr Amato is a very professional minister. He has a long, long political experience”, said Council President Dragutin Mate, Slovenian Interior Minister, speaking on 12 March. The presentation of any candidate is up to Italy, Mr Mate pointed out, saying that he did not know who Italy would suggest. “The most likely candidates are Socialist Giuliano Amato and Emma Bonino (Radical Party, Secretary of state for European Policy and International Trade)”, one European official said. The latter explained that, if Silvio Berlusconi were to win, it could not be ruled out that he would make a “Sarkozian choice” of opening to the left. Both candidates have a sound experience in European matters. In addition to his present function as minister of the interior, Mr Amato was deputy chairman of the European Convention from 2002 to June 2003. He also headed the Amato group resulting in the draft Reform Treaty on 23 June 2007. Ms Bonino, on the other hand, has held the post of European commissioner for consumer policy, fisheries and emergency humanitarian aid. The Commission's current mandate runs until 31 October 2009. (B.C.)