Guy Verhofstadt could be the next head of the group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE). At least that is what a lot of members are hoping for, even though much will depend on his future plans for his political career in Belgium. Other names are being mentioned, including MEPs Diana Wallis and Alexander Graf Lambsdorff.

The former Belgian prime minister seemed convincing in his remarks at the launch of the European Liberal, Democrat and Reform party’s election campaign, on 15 April in Brussels. He sparked laughter in the audience and explained with verve why he wanted to become a member of the EP: “After nine years in the Council of Ministers, not once did I ever hear the words ‘European interest’ pronounced”. Verhofstadt, who supports a “United States of Europe,” also plans to stand up against Euroscepticism, which is on the rise even in the EPP-ED and the PES.

Some would like to see the Belgian politician, who heads the Flemish Open VLD list, become chairman of the ALDE group. The seat will be vacant in June because the incumbent, Britain’s Graham Watson, hopes to be elected president of the European Parliament. He has already announced that if his bid for the presidency fails he will not seek the group chairmanship again.

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The Verhofstadt option is far from certain, however, notes an internal source. He is sure to be elected in June, as a former prime minister appreciated by French speakers and a “Liberal with a social conscience,” which can be a convincing argument in the context of the economic crisis. “However, he is also a responsible statesman and I don’t see him standing for the group chairmanship if he plans to bid for the Belgian prime minister’s seat” in the 2011 elections. Even more apparent is the case of Belgium’s Louis Michel, development commissioner and head of the MR list for the European elections. He, too, is a charismatic Liberal figure but is expected to opt for a return to a national political career or the European Commission, rather than a seat in the EP.

Apart from Verhofstadt and Michel, other potential group heads include German MEP Alexander Graf Lambsdorff, who could stand a chance of being elected if the head of the FDP delegation in the ALDE, the very popular Silvana Koch-Mehrin, becomes minister after the legislative elections in Germany (in the event of a coalition with the CDU). Otherwise, she could lay claim to the seat. Britain’s Diana Wallis, EP vice-president in charge of transparency, also stands a chance, particularly because she belongs to one of the group’s biggest delegations. Another possibility is Italian Antonio Di Pietro, who heads the Italy of Values party, expected to score well in June. It is uncertain whether he wishes to make the commitment, however. The verdict will be reached in late June or early July.