Helle Thorning-Schmidt
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| Helle Thorning-Schmidt | |
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Leader of the Social Democrats
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| Assumed office 12 April 2005 |
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| Preceded by | Mogens Lykketoft |
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Member of Parliament
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 8 February 2005 |
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Member of the European Parliament
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| In office 1999 – 2004 |
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| Born | 14 December 1966 Rødovre, Denmark |
| Political party | Social Democrats |
| Spouse | Stephen Kinnock |
| Children | Johanna and Camilla |
Helle Thorning-Schmidt [⁽ˈ⁾hɛlə tˢɒːneŋ ˈsmed̥] (born 14 December 1966) is a Danish politician. She was elected leader of the Danish Social Democrats by the party members on April 12, 2005, ahead of the other candidate, Frank Jensen. She replaced Mogens Lykketoft, who had resigned when he lost the 2005 Danish parliamentary election to the sitting government coalition of Anders Fogh Rasmussen.
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[edit] Early political and personal life
Helle Thorning-Schmidt graduated with a master's degree in political science from the University of Copenhagen in 1994, and also holds a master's degree in European studies from the College of Europe in Bruges.
Through her marriage to Stephen Kinnock, she is the daughter-in-law of Neil Kinnock, former leader of the British Labour Party, and Glenys Kinnock.
[edit] Member of the European Parliament 1999-2004
In 1999, Helle Thorning-Schmidt was elected to the European Parliament as a member of the Party of European Socialists. During the five year term, she was a member of the Employment and Social Committee and the Constitutional Committee of the European Parliament. She co-founded the Campaign for Parliament Reform (CPR).
[edit] Return to domestic politics
She lead the Social Democrats through the 2007 Danish parliamentary election where, despite modest gains, the party was forced into a third term in opposition. The party was also unable to regain its position as the largest party in the Folketing. Since 2005 she has represented a constituency near Copenhagen called Østerbrokredsen.
As the leader of the largest opposition party in Denmark she can be considered the leader of the Danish opposition. Should she succeed in leading the opposition to power, she will be the first female Prime Minister of Denmark.
She is against holding a referendum on the European Reform Treaty.[1] During her 2007 campaign she promised to relax restrictions on asylum seekers and immigrants.[2] She is also opposed to the mass tax cuts being carried out by Anders Fogh Rasmussen, instead she would like to see more money spent on welfare. The party also campaigned on a platform of combating increased inequalities in society, and fighting global warming by making 45% of Denmark's energy from renewable sources by 2025.[3]
Her belief in relaxing restrictions on asylum seekers shows in her decision to back a group of 500 failed Iraqi asylum seekers in their search to live and work in Denmark. She says that Denmark is obligated to help Iraqis due to Denmark's role in the Iraq War.
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ^ Denmark announces snap elections, BBC News 24 October 2007
- ^ Danes in poll tussle over migrants, BBC News 13 November 2007
- ^ Denmark: A political guide, The Guardian 9 November 2007
| Party political offices | ||
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| Preceded by Mogens Lykketoft |
Leader of the Danish Social Democrats 2005 – |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
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Parties running in Denmark proper |
Parties running in the Faroe Islands |
Parties running in Greenland |
| Candidates for Prime Minister: Fogh Rasmussen • Thorning-Schmidt | ||
| Other notable candidates: Barfod • Bendtsen • Khader • Kjærsgaard • Kornbek • Søvndal • Vestager | ||
| Ministry of Welfare: Parties eligible to run in Danish parliamentary elections | ||
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