Simon Busuttil, the Nationalist MEP seeking re-election, was the first candidate to be elected in the first European Parliament elections in Malta five years ago - winning 58,899 first count votes, the biggest amount among all candidates.
A lawyer by profession, Dr Busuttil specialised in EU law. He headed the Malta-EU Information Centre before Malta joined the EU and was also a member of Malta's Core Negotiating Group.
Dr Busuttil entered the political fray as a youth, having been president of the Christian Democrat Students. He was also active in the University Students' Council.
In the European Parliament, Dr Busuttil has been particularly active in budgetary affairs, immigration policy, Euro-Mediterranean policy and the citizens' EU rights.
Dr Busuttil is married,with two sons.