Michel Daerden (born 16 November 1949 in Baudour, Belgium) is a francophone Belgian politician, a member of the Parti Socialiste, and a Finance auditor. Popular for his reputation as a 'bon vivant', his undenied penchant for a drink (especially Pomerol) has led him to be lovingly nicknamed "the Gainsbourg of Belgian Politics" both by himself in a famous TV interview and by Belgium's much respected weekly news magazine Le Vif/L'Express.

Michel Daerden has two daughters. Aurore Daerden is a DJ and a stylist: Elena Daerden is a student. His son, Frédéric Daerden, is the mayor of Herstal and an MEP.

Expressing a certain sense of spectacle in his political activities, Daerden said he wanted to be a singer.

On 6 December 2006, Daerden laid the first stone of the renovated Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps.

Michel Daerden was the subject of special attention after the Belgian municipal elections of 2006. Excerpts of his post-election interview on RTBF and on local television RTC-TV Liège, where he appears intoxicated, were circulated widely on YouTube. A week later, Daerden was asked on the TV show Mise au Point whether he had had too much to drink at that time. His humorous response was "Pas plus que d'habitude" ("No more than usual").