Helle Thorning-Schmidt

Danish retired politician, former Prime Minister of Denmark

Helle Thorning-Schmidt (born 14 December 1966) is a Danish politician. She is the leader of the Danish Social Democrats and is the first female Prime Minister of Denmark.[1] She left the government in 2015.

Helle Thorning-Schmidt
Thorning-Schmidt in 2024
Prime Minister of Denmark
In office
3 October 2011 – 28 June 2015
MonarchMargrethe II
DeputyMargrethe Vestager
Preceded byLars Løkke Rasmussen
Succeeded byLars Løkke Rasmussen
Personal details
Born (1966-12-14) 14 December 1966 (age 57)
Rødovre, Denmark
NationalityDanish
Political partySocial Democrats
Spouse(s)Stephen Kinnock (1996–present)
Children2 daughters
Alma materUniversity of Copenhagen
College of Europe
Signature

Early life and education

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Helle Thorning-Schmidt was born in Rødovre to Holger Thorning-Schmidt and his wife Grete. Thorning-Schmidt's father was a lecturer in mathematics and national economics at the University of Copenhagen. Her parents were both politically conservative[2] and she grew up in the Copenhagen suburb of Ishøj.

As Prime Minister

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She was elected to Prime Minister of Denmark on September 15, 2011, and her government took over at October 3, 2011, from the liberal Lars Løkke Rasmussen.

She formed the government with the Social Liberal Party (Det Radikale Venstre) and the Socialist People's Party (Socialistisk Folkeparti). Together they had 77 seats, and with the support of their parliamentary basis, Unity (Enhedslisten), obtain the 89 seats. Furthermore, she has the support of the North Atlantic - two seats from Greenland and one from the Faroe Islands.[3]

Personal life

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She is married to Stephen Kinnock, only son of British politician Neil Kinnock.

References

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  1. "Danes vote for their first female prime minister". The Guardian.com. 15 September 2011. Retrieved 10 August 2013.
  2. "Profil: Helle Thorning-Schmidt – VG Nett om Danmark". Vg.no. Retrieved 16 September 2011.
  3. Marie Hjortdal. "Løkke går af – nu begynder spillet om magten" (in Danish). Politiken.dk. Archived from the original on 2012-10-09. Retrieved 2011-09-16.

Other websites

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  Media related to Helle Thorning-Schmidt at Wikimedia Commons