The one that made most jaws drop was Siegfried Bracke, Flanders’ best-known political journalist. Currently seen nightly on Terzake, he became famous for his hard-boiled TV interviews, with frequent interruptions whenever he felt questions were left unanswered – although over the past decade he opted for a more light-hearted version of interview.

The fact that Bracke crossed over to the other side surprised no-one, but his party of choice did. Bracke had always been close to the socialist SP.A, contributing to the somewhat leftist image of public broadcasting but, in the end, decided to join the nationalist N-VA, the hype of the moment.

The events of recent years, Bracke said, had convinced him of the need for major state reform. It is hard, however, to picture Bracke waving Flemish flags or singing the Flemish anthem as is customary at N-VA party meetings. He admits to that, calling himself a “rational” rather than “romantic” nationalist.

Party leader Bart De Wever, who was as stunned by Bracke’s decision as anyone, calls him an expert who has put 30 years of thinking into this conclusion and welcomes him with open arms. Who wouldn’t?

Another white rabbit is Rik Torfs, a professor in church law, who became a celebrity in spite of that. Torfs will team up with CD&V party president Marianne Thyssen at the top of the CD&V senate list. Torfs is well known as a witty expert in church matters. He became a household name when he served as the one-man jury for three years in the popular quiz show De slimste mens ter wereld, acting like anything but a professor.

That same TV programme also introduced Eva Brems, yet another law professor, to the public. Brems, who up until recently was president of Amnesty International Flanders, will be a candidate for the environmental party Groen! in the upcoming election.

In his later years as a journalist, Siegfried Bracke introduced elements of entertainment into political journalism, believing that this would make it more attractive to larger audiences. In fact, he even co-hosted an election talk show with Rik Torfs. And while no-one doubts that last week’s white rabbits are valuable candidates, the worlds of politics and entertainment have moved still closer. Bracke the journalist is no doubt pleased.