European Commission President: Leading candidates

Former Prime Minister of Luxembourg in 1954 in Luxembourg.

Became a member of the Luxembourg Chamber of Deputies for the Christian Social People’s Party at 29. Prime Minister for 18 years, by the end of which he was the world’s longest serving democratically elected head of government. Resigned last July after exposure of abuses by the secret service.

Spent two weeks in a coma in 1989 after a car crash. He is, allegedly, a boozer. said in February that it was not uncommon to see him knock back two gin and tonics and a beer over lunch.

Owed his position as PM to British stroppiness. In 1994, John Major objected when the Belgian PM, Jean-Luc Deheane, was nominated for the post of EC President, so the previous Luxembourg PM, Jacques Santer, got the job. He was a disaster.

Until the last few days, they were high. But fierce opposition from Cameron and wavering from Merkel, mean they have dwindled. Prime Minister of Denmark in 1966 in Rodovre, Denmark

After graduating from the University of Copenhagen, she won a scholarship to the College of Europe in Bruges, Belgium. A Social Democrat MEP and later party leader in Denmark.

Admitted to a “big, sloppy error” when, as leader of the opposition, the Danish tax authorities investigated the discrepancy in her and her husband’s tax affairs. The investigation was subsequently dropped. Once let rip at a fellow Social Democrat who called her “Gucci Helle” because of her love of designer handbags; has since said the nickname doesn’t bother her.

Denmark is not in the top flight of G8 nations but is a key member of the EU.

Her background makes her a natural choice and she has one year left of term as PM.

President of Lithuania since 2009, re-elected last month. in 1956 in Vilnius, Lithuania.

Student then lecturer in political sciences. Worked as an official in the foreign affairs department; later Finance Minister and EU Budget Commissioner.

A black belt in karate and known as Lithuania’s Iron Lady, she vowed to “take a gun myself to defend the country” against Russian aggression in the wake of the break-up of Ukraine. Known for her ability to steer clear of scandal.

A staunch supporter of Ukraine’s new President, Grybauskaite is respected in Europe and knows Brussels inside out. Close to Merkel.

Fair. Despite just being reelected President, she could emerge as the consensus candidate between Merkel and Cameron.