In Belgium, voters can either vote for a party by checking the box at the top of a list, or they can vote for an individual candidate within one list, thereby giving that candidate a better chance of getting elected. In practice, the higher up a list a candidate is ranked, the better his or her chances of getting elected.

Observers complain about the high number of "fake candidates" who have no intention of taking up their seat should they be elected. Jean-Marie Dedecker, for instance, has announced that he will not be going to the European Parliament, while Frank Vanhecke of Vlaams Belang will definitely stay in that assembly and relinquish his seat in the Flemish Parliament. The only reason their names are on the list is their personal popularity. The electorate, for their part, does not seem to mind all that much.

CD&V
Jean-Luc Dehaene (EP) is a formidable candidate, and not just because of his size. His no-nonsense style as prime minister (1992-1999) makes him one of the most popular Belgian politicians to this day. He combines a sound political approach with a folksy style. He has kissed sea lions and sat on mechanical bulls, as well as pulling off the last great state reform and bringing this country within the eurozone by tightening its budget. The socialists have attacked him for his chairmanship of the financial group Dexia, but that does not seem to have stuck. He campaigns along with his son Tom Dehaene (Flemish Brabant).

Kris Peeters (Antwerp), who is blessed with excellent rhetorical skills and good looks, is set to succeed himself as minister-president. As he became a minister in the Flemish government without having participated in elections, this is his big test now. Before he entered politics, he was the spokesperson for the small businesses organisation Unizo.

The former prime minister Yves Leterme (West Flanders and EP) and Jo Vandeurzen (Limburg), who both resigned over the government handling of Fortis, hope that a popular vote will prove them right after all. In the 2007 federal elections Yves Leterme got 800,000 votes. Can he repeat this record?

Open VLD
Guy Verhofstadt (EP) is the equal of Jean-Luc Dehaene in political stature. After he left office as prime minister, he kept quiet for about a year. Then he returned, with new glasses, an increased love of books and a new vision on the future of Europe. The come-back kid of Belgian politics is widely considered the best debater and campaigner of the lot. As the most popular politician of his generation, he is the biggest asset for his party.

Dirk Van Mechelen (Antwerp) is an unlikely challenger for Kris Peeters. He has a good track record as finance and budget minister, but he lacks charisma. As the main mouthpiece for liberal issues, he has demanded a doubling of the tax cut for people with full time jobs.

And then there is Jean-Jacques De Gucht (East-Flanders), only 25 and the son of foreign minister Karel De Gucht. He has his eye on the culture portfolio in the next Flemish government.

SP.A
Flemish minister Kathleen Van Brempt (EP) has a hard time positioning herself between the two heavyweights Dehaene and Verhofstadt. She has earned good marks in the European Parliament, though, where she fought off the so-called "ports ruling", which would have cost many Antwerp dockers their jobs. Now she pleads for a ring of windmills in the North Sea as a source of alternative energy.

While most of his comrades long for some time in opposition, Frank Vandenbroucke (Flemish Brabant), the stern but effective labour and education minister, strongly defends the socialist achievements in government. He has a "daring plan" to combat the economic crisis with government investments.

There is also John Crombez (West-Flanders), a newcomer who aims to step into Johan Vande Lanotte's shoes but has blundered by pleading for deficit spending.

N-VA
Party president Bart De Wever (Antwerp) hopes to seduce voters who are disappointed by the lack of progress on state reform. He is one of the very few Belgian politicians who openly call themselves "conservative". He is a clever debater with a sharp wit, and his popularity shot up after he took part in the top-rating TV quiz show De Slimste mens ter wereld.

And then there is Geert Bourgeois (West Flanders), who resigned as Flemish minister of media and foreign policy after the cartel between CD&V and N-VA fell apart, and Jan Peumans (Limburg), voted "best Flemish parliamentarian" by the press.

Groen!
Party president Mieke Vogels (Antwerp) has been around for so long that she is nicknamed Moeke ("Mum") Vogels. Her good-humoured nature makes her one of the few ecologists who really appeal to the public at large. She was Flemish welfare minister from 1999 to 2003, after which her party was all but eradicated. Now she hopes for a result of 10%. Also in the running are former documentary maker Luckas Van Der Taelen (Brussels) and respected MEP Bart Staes.

Vlaams Belang
Foul-mouthed Filip Dewinter (Antwerp) has been the main man for Vlaams Belang for ages, but with the rise of N-VA and LDD, his popularity seems to have lost some momentum. He is trying to turn the tide by playing on the theme that has served him best: immigrants and Islam.

Also on the list is Marie-Rose Morel (EP), the member of the Flemish Parliament who fell out of grace after she prevented Jean-Marie Dedecker from joining Vlaams Belang. Shortly after, she was diagnosed with a possibly lethal cancer, which brought her some media exposure and a lot of sympathy. This might even get her elected into the European Parliament from the normally "not electable" last place on the list.

LDD
Former judo coach Jean-Marie Dedecker (West Flanders and EP) started his own party after he was thrown out of Open VLD. Following a number of scandals, he has become the most talked-about politician of this campaign. He plays on the popular anti-politics sentiment to such an extent that he has been accused of being a populist. Also in the running is Derk-Jan Eppink (EP), the former journalist who will take up Dedecker's seat in the European Parliament.

SLP
Geert Lambert (West-Flanders) of the new SLP gained attention with a very negative campaign directed towards SP.A, the party he depended on for years before his own party Spirit disintegrated.

PvdA
Tine Van Rompuy (Flemish Brabant), sister of prime minister Herman and Flemish parliamentarian Eric, goes her own way, by standing as a candidate for the extreme left-wing PvdA.

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