Lene Espersen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lene Espersen
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| Deputy Prime Minister of Denmark | |
| In office 10 September 2008 – 13 January 2011 |
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| Prime Minister | Anders Fogh Rasmussen Lars Løkke Rasmussen |
| Preceded by | Bendt Bendtsen |
| Succeeded by | Lars Barfoed |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs | |
| In office 23 February 2010 – 3 October 2011 |
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| Prime Minister | Lars Løkke Rasmussen |
| Preceded by | Per Stig Møller |
| Succeeded by | Villy Søvndal |
| Minister of Economic and Business Affairs | |
| In office 10 September 2008 – 23 February 2010 |
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| Prime Minister | Anders Fogh Rasmussen Lars Løkke Rasmussen |
| Preceded by | Bendt Bendtsen |
| Succeeded by | Brian Mikkelsen |
| Leader of the Conservative People's Party | |
| In office 9 September 2008 – 13 January 2011 |
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| Preceded by | Bendt Bendtsen |
| Succeeded by | Lars Barfoed |
| Minister of Justice | |
| In office 27 November 2001 – 10 September 2008 |
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| Prime Minister | Anders Fogh Rasmussen |
| Preceded by | Frank Jensen |
| Succeeded by | Brian Mikkelsen |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 26 September 1965 Hirtshals, Denmark |
| Political party | Conservative People's Party |
| Spouse | Danny Feltmann |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | University of Aarhus |
Lene Espersen (born 26 September 1965) is a well-known Danish politician. She used to be the leader of the Conservative People's Party. She also served as Minister of Justice. Today, she is the CEO of the Danish Association of Architectural Firms. From 2016 to 2020, she was the chairman of the board for Aalborg University.
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Growing Up in Denmark
Lene Espersen was born in Hirtshals, a town in northern Jutland, Denmark. Her father was a fisherman, and her mother was a book-keeper. She grew up with her younger sister.
She later studied at Lester B. Pearson United World College of the Pacific in Canada. Lene was the first person in her family to go to and graduate from university.
Her Political Journey
Lene Espersen was the first person in her family to join a political party. She became a member of the Folketinget, which is the Danish Parliament, in 1994.
Key Government Roles
Lene Espersen held several important jobs in the Danish government:
- Minister of Justice: She was in charge of justice from 2001 to 2008.
- Minister of Economic and Business Affairs: She handled economic and business matters from 2008 to 2010.
- Deputy Prime Minister: She was the Deputy Prime Minister from 2008 to 2011.
First Female Foreign Minister
From 2010 to 2011, Lene Espersen served as Minister of Foreign Affairs. This was a big deal because she was the first woman to hold this position in Denmark. At that time, she was also the only woman serving as a foreign minister in the entire European Union (EU).
Leading the Conservative Party
Lene Espersen became the leader of the Conservative People's Party in 2008. She led the party until 2011. After some challenges, she decided to step down as leader. Lars Barfoed took over her role.
Other Important Work
After her time in government, Lene Espersen continued to be active in other areas. She has been involved in international groups and organizations.
- Trilateral Commission: She is a member of the European Group for this commission.
- Baltic Development Forum: She has been the Chair of this forum since 2014.
- European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD): She was a member of their Board of Governors from 2008 to 2010.
Her Views on Global Issues
Lene Espersen has shared her thoughts on important global topics. For example, in 2005, when a Danish newspaper published some controversial cartoons, she defended the newspaper's right to publish them. She also stated that she believed Muslim extremism was a greater danger than climate change.
In 2012, as Foreign Minister, she met with ambassadors from Muslim countries. This meeting aimed to prevent new misunderstandings and to build better relationships.
