Brussels, 29/03/2004 (Agence Europe) - One of the specific characteristics of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is the fact hat a political party can present a list for the elections composed almost exclusively of ministers in office. There is a preferential voting system in operation and voters can choose from ministers by using the Chrëstchtlech Sozial Vollekspartei (CSV) voting list.
The list of Luxembourg Social Democrats standing for the upcoming European elections is (in the order in which they appear on the list): - current prime minister Jean-Claude Juncker (50 years old); - former labour and employment minister François Biltgen (46); - agriculture minister Fernand Boden (60); - justice minister Luc Frieden (41); - parliamentarian Norbert Haupert (64); - family and social projection minister Marie-José Jacobs (54); - culture minister Erna Hennicot-Schoepges (63); - Astrid Lulling (75), a leading specialist in bees, hives and honey, former trade union activist and member of the Economic and Social Committee, who was MEP from 1965 to 1974, and again from 1989 until the present; - current European Commissioner for Education, Culture and Sport Viviane Reding (53), who was an MEP from 1989 1999; - former president of the Chamber of Deputies Jean Spautz (74) ; - the president of the CSV group in the Chamber, Lucien Weiler (53); and - current interior minister Michel Wolter (42).