Brussels, 05/03/2004 (Agence Europe) - The Flemish Liberals have put the finishing touches to their list for the European elections. It is now certain that Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt will be at the head of the list. In second place, there is former VLD President Karel De Gucht, and Annemie Neyts in third place (both formerly MEPs). Roland Duchâtelet is in fourth place. Alternates will, in order, be: - outgoing Dirk Sterckx; new VLD President, Johan Vanhecke, also outgoing; Gwendolyn Rutten and Machteld Claerhout. The complete VLD list will be made known end March.
Jean-Luc Dehaene, former Prime Minister and Vice-President of the Convention, will lead the list of Flemish Christian Democrats. Outgoing deputy Marianne Thyssen will run in second place and the journalist, Ivo Belens, in third.