No-one doubts Lieten's competence though. She has gained respect all round as the director-general of De Lijn, the Flemish public transport authority, which she turned into a modern business. She did so in close co-operation with the political world she is now entering. She and Steve Stevaert (SP.A), who as minister for mobility appointed her at De Lijn in 2002, have always been close allies.

Moreover, no-one doubts her political affiliation. Lieten calls herself a "pedigree socialist", as her mother, Lisette Croes, was a socialist senator. Even when she was managing De Lijn, Lieten was considered "one of us" within the SP.A. She has been a party militant for years. During this campaign, she actually canvassed for Peter Vanvelthoven, the Limburg strong man who had hoped to become minister himself.

The only stain Lieten has to wash off is that she is very much "Steve Stevaert's woman". Stevaert recently quit as governor of Limburg province, as the strict neutrality required by that function did not match his personal ambitions. Stevaert became something of a legend when he led the socialists to electoral victory in 2003, but has now announced that he does not want to become a full time politician again. Yet at least two of the three SP.A ministers (Lieten and Freya Van den Bossche) as well as party president Caroline Gennez belong to his inner circle. Stevaert may not be re-entering politics, but he is clearly back in business.

Lieten has to prove she is her own woman now. Her portfolio does not include Mobility, which the socialists have claimed for years. This is a bit of a surprise, although given the SP.A's tactical instincts, it probably has something to do with money getting tight in this area.

As a manager at De Lijn, Lieten was often called "Flanders' most powerful woman". Now she really is. How hard can it be then, to get out from Stevaert's (admittedly big) shadow?