Mette Frederiksen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mette Frederiksen
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Frederiksen in 2023
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| Prime Minister of Denmark | |
| Assumed office 27 June 2019 |
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| Monarch | Margrethe II Frederik X |
| Deputy | Jakob Ellemann-Jensen Troels Lund Poulsen |
| Preceded by | Lars Løkke Rasmussen |
| Leader of the Social Democrats | |
| Assumed office 28 June 2015 |
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| Deputy | Frank Jensen Mogens Jensen |
| Preceded by | Helle Thorning-Schmidt |
| Minister of Justice | |
| In office 10 October 2014 – 28 June 2015 |
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| Prime Minister | Helle Thorning-Schmidt |
| Preceded by | Karen Hækkerup |
| Succeeded by | Søren Pind |
| Minister of Employment | |
| In office 3 October 2011 – 10 October 2014 |
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| Prime Minister | Helle Thorning-Schmidt |
| Preceded by | Inger Støjberg |
| Succeeded by | Henrik Dam Kristensen |
| Member of the Folketing | |
| Assumed office 20 November 2001 |
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| Constituency | Copenhagen (2001–2007) Greater Copenhagen (2007–2019) North Jutland (2019–present) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 19 November 1977 Aalborg, Denmark |
| Political party | Social Democrats |
| Spouses |
Erik Harr
(m. 2003; div. 2014)Bo Tengberg
(m. 2020) |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | Aalborg University (BA) University of Copenhagen (MA) |
Mette Frederiksen was born on 19 November 1977. She is a Danish politician who has been the Prime Minister of Denmark since June 2019. She also leads the Social Democrats political party since June 2015. She is the second woman to hold either of these important jobs. Mette Frederiksen is also the youngest prime minister in Denmark's history.
Before becoming prime minister, she worked briefly for a trade union from 2000 to 2001. Other than that, she has always worked in politics. She was first elected to the Folketing (the Danish Parliament) in 2001. She represented the Copenhagen County area.
After her party won the 2011 election, she became the Minister of Employment. This was under Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt. In 2014, she was promoted to Minister of Justice. After her party lost the 2015 election, Helle Thorning-Schmidt stepped down. Mette Frederiksen then won the election to become the new leader of the Social Democrats. This made her the Leader of the Opposition.
In the 2019 election, Mette Frederiksen led her party to victory. Her party and other left-wing and centre-left parties won enough seats. This allowed them to form a government. On 27 June 2019, she became the Prime Minister. In December 2021, she became the longest-serving female head of government in the European Union.
In July 2022, a report looked into how her government handled a COVID-19 outbreak in mink farms. The report said her government's statements were "misleading." However, it also said she didn't know the order to cull the mink was illegal. This led to calls for an early election. On 5 October 2022, Mette Frederiksen announced an election for 1 November. Her party had its best result in 20 years, gaining two more seats. She received the most votes of any candidate. On 13 December 2022, she announced a new government. It included her Social Democrats, the Venstre party, and the Moderates. She continued as prime minister.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Mette Frederiksen was born on 19 November 1977 in Aalborg, Denmark. Her father was a typographer, and her mother was a teacher. When she was a teenager, she cared about important issues. She campaigned to save rain forests and protect whales. She also worked to end apartheid (a system of racial separation).
She went to Aalborghus Gymnasium for high school. She earned a bachelor's degree in Administration and Social Science from Aalborg University. Later, she got a master's degree in African Studies from the University of Copenhagen.
Political Journey
Starting in Parliament
Before entering parliament, Frederiksen worked as a youth consultant. She worked for LO, The Danish Confederation of Trade Unions. In 2001, she was elected to the Folketing (Danish Parliament). She represented the Copenhagen County area. This election was notable because the Social Democrats came in second place. It was the first time since 1920 they weren't in first.
After being elected, she became her party's spokesperson for culture, media, and gender equality. In 2002, she won the Nina Bang award. This award is for showing political courage and making a social impact. She also helped write two books: Epostler (2003) and From Fight to Culture (2004).
After the 2005 election, she became the party's spokesperson for social affairs. She also served as the vice-chairperson for the Social Democrats in parliament. In the 2007 election, she received many votes. She was among the top ten Danish politicians with the most votes.
After the 2011 election, the Social Democrats formed a government. Mette Frederiksen served as Minister for Employment from 2011 to 2014. Then, she became Minister of Justice from 2014 to 2015. As Minister of Employment, she worked on reforms. These reforms changed early retirement pensions and flex jobs. She also worked on the cash assistance reform. This reform lowered benefits for young unemployed people.
Leading the Social Democrats
After the 2015 election, Mette Frederiksen became the leader of the Social Democrats. Under her leadership, the party moved more to the left on money matters. However, they took a stricter stance on immigration. In the 2015 election, her party returned to first place. They also gained three seats in the Folketing.
Prime Minister of Denmark
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Premiership of Mette Frederiksen
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| 27 June 2019 – | |
| Premier | Mette Frederiksen |
| Cabinet | First Frederiksen Cabinet Second Frederiksen Cabinet |
| Party | Social Democrats |
| Election | 2019 2022 |
| Appointer | Margrethe II |
| Seat | Christiansborg Palace |
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← Lars Løkke Rasmussen • TBD →
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The 2019 Election
The 2019 election saw the Social Democrats gain another seat. Other parties, like the Danish People's Party, lost a lot of support. This meant the previous prime minister, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, lost his majority. On election night, Rasmussen accepted his defeat.
Mette Frederiksen became Prime Minister on 27 June 2019. She led a government made only of Social Democrats. Other parties, like the Danish Social Liberal Party, supported her government. After winning, she briefly changed her stance on immigration. She allowed more foreign workers. She also reversed plans to hold foreign criminals offshore.
The 2020 Mink Cull
On 4 November 2020, Mette Frederiksen announced a decision. The government decided that all mink in Denmark should be killed. This was due to the risk of COVID-19 infection. Later, it was found that this order was not legal. Many people said it went against the Constitution.
The government gave different explanations. Several parties in the Folketing asked for a full explanation. A report on 18 November 2020 showed that six ministers knew the order was illegal. They had been warned on 1 October 2020. The Minister of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, Mogens Jensen, resigned immediately. Mette Frederiksen said she did not know about the lack of legal basis.
A special commission was set up to investigate the case. Its report came out on 30 June 2022. The report said Frederiksen's statements were "grossly misleading." But it also said she didn't know the order was illegal. Some supporting parties did not want further legal review. However, the Social Liberal Party demanded an early election. If their demands were not met, they would support a vote against Frederiksen. On 5 October 2022, Frederiksen announced an election for 1 November 2022.
On 5 July 2022, the Folketing gave Frederiksen an official reprimand. This was for her actions in handling the mink case.
Denmark's Role in the World
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Mette Frederiksen gained international attention in August 2019. This happened when U.S. President Donald Trump cancelled a visit to Denmark. He cancelled because she refused to sell Greenland. Greenland is a self-governing territory of Denmark.
On 15 August, a newspaper reported Trump discussed buying Greenland. Kim Kielsen, the Premier of Greenland, said Greenland was not for sale. On 18 August, Frederiksen agreed with Kielsen. She said "Greenland is not Danish. Greenland belongs to Greenland." She called the discussion "absurd." On 20 August, Trump cancelled his visit. He specifically mentioned Frederiksen's refusal to discuss a sale.
On 3 January 2020, an Iranian General was killed by the United States. This increased tensions between the two countries. Frederiksen called it "a really serious situation."
In early 2022, Frederiksen started talks with the United States. They discussed having American troops in Denmark. Frederiksen was keen on these talks. She stated, "We want a stronger American presence in Europe and in Denmark."
European Union Relations
In 2020, a Danish newspaper called Frederiksen "Denmark's most eurosceptic PM in a long time." This was because she often criticized the EU's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. She also criticized their vaccine program.
In the 2022 vote on the EU defense opt-out, Frederiksen campaigned to end it. The opt-out was removed. Frederiksen then said she would not try to remove other Danish opt-outs from the EU. She had supported removing a judicial opt-out in a 2015 vote.
2022 Nord Stream Gas Leaks
Frederiksen said the 2022 Nord Stream gas leaks were sabotage. But she noted it was not an attack on Denmark. The leaks happened in international waters. Frederiksen traveled to London and Brussels to discuss the leaks. She met with British Prime Minister Liz Truss and other leaders. She stressed the need for more surveillance of important infrastructure. She also said they must take Russian President Vladimir Putin's threats seriously.
Military Spending
In May 2023, her government decided to increase Denmark's military spending. They plan to triple it over the next 10 years. Part of this money will come from removing a public holiday for workers.
In February 2025, she announced further increases. Denmark would spend more than 3% of its GDP on defense. This would happen within the next two years.
COVID-19 Pandemic Response
Frederiksen led the Danish Government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Denmark. In 2020, she ordered mink farmers to cull millions of animals. This was due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This decision later turned out to be against the constitution.
By 2021, she worked with leaders from Austria and Israel. They set up a joint research fund for COVID-19 vaccines. They also planned for possible production facilities. This was to ensure long-term supplies for booster shots or new virus types.
Education Changes
In June 2021, Frederiksen's government announced a new plan for high school applications. The plan aimed to reduce differences between schools. It considered parents' income to help balance student populations. Some political groups criticized this, calling it "forced distribution." A petition against the law gathered many signatures. This allowed it to be discussed in Parliament.
A year later, in June 2022, Frederiksen announced another change. Her government planned to put a limit on entry grades for higher education. This meant that some university programs would need other ways to admit students. The goal was to reduce pressure on students to get very high grades. It also aimed to give students more freedom in choosing their education.
In September 2022, Frederiksen suggested shortening some master's degrees. About half of all master's degrees would go from two years to one year. This would mainly affect degrees in social sciences and humanities. Science and medicine degrees would mostly stay the same. Students and professors criticized this idea. They said it would lower education quality. Frederiksen disagreed. She said quality would increase, and workers could be trained on the job.
Political Beliefs
Social Policies
Frederiksen has said she wants to be the "Prime Minister of Children." In 2021, she introduced a plan called "Law of Children." This plan aimed to prioritize children in social cases. It would give local governments more resources to help children from violent homes. It would also give children more rights in divorce cases.
In 2020, she made a deal with other parties. This deal allowed people who had worked for a long time to get early retirement. This was a key promise from Frederiksen during her 2019 election campaign.
Immigration Views
Frederiksen became more cautious about mass immigration. She believes it has had negative effects on many people. This issue became more important after 2001 and during the 2015 European migrant crisis. She stated that "the price of unregulated globalization, mass immigration, and the free movement of labour is paid for by the lower classes."
Under Frederiksen, the Social Democrats supported a law. This law allowed Danish authorities to take money and valuables from refugees. This law was criticized by the United Nations Human Rights Council. Some compared it to how Jews were treated in Nazi-occupied Europe.
The Social Democrats also voted for a law banning the wearing of burqas and niqabs. They supported making repatriation (returning to one's home country) the main goal for asylum policy. She has called for limits on non-Western immigrants. She also suggested sending asylum seekers to a reception center in North Africa. She proposed forced work for immigrants in exchange for benefits.
Frederiksen has called Islam a "barrier to integration." She argued that some Muslims "do not respect the Danish judicial system." She also said some Muslim women refuse to work for religious reasons. She claimed Muslim girls face "massive social control." She has called for Muslim schools to be closed.
In April 2021, Frederiksen announced Denmark's "ultimate goal." This goal is to have "zero spontaneous asylum seekers." The Danish Integration Minister added that "no exceptions will be made." The Danish state stopped renewing temporary residency permits for some Syrian refugees. They claimed it was "now safe to return to Syria."
Despite these stricter policies, her government has also made some changes. They support the UN refugee quota system. Denmark has rejoined this system. Other changes include moving children out of a specific migration center. They also increased social benefits for refugees.
Globalisation Perspective
Frederiksen has argued that her party's past approach was too focused on globalisation. She believes this led to them losing voter trust. She criticized other social democratic parties. She felt they failed to protect workers' rights. She also believed they did not prevent rising inequality.
Climate Change Actions
Frederiksen's government made international news with a climate agreement. They agreed to reduce Denmark's emissions by 70% by 2030 (compared to 1990 levels). They also decided to stop oil and gas exploration after 2050. Another big project is building energy islands in the North Sea.
Frederiksen once said, "I was a social democrat before I got green." She added, "And when I wake up in the morning, I am still a social democrat before I am green."
More than a year after setting the 2030 target, there were no clear plans for the remaining reductions. Environmental groups have been critical of her Climate Minister's work in 2020.
Her government describes its climate strategy as a "hockey stick" model. This means they plan to achieve most reductions later in the decade. They are waiting for new technologies and lower costs. Some political parties have called this a "Bjørn Lomborg" dream.
Despite calls from international organizations, her government has delayed a higher carbon pricing system. Denmark was a leader in carbon pricing in 1992. The delay was welcomed by industries that produce a lot of emissions.
As of March 2021, Denmark has lower carbon prices than its neighbors. This means trucks from Germany might refuel in Denmark to save money. Denmark is also one of four EU countries without carbon taxes on passenger flights. Her government even planned to support domestic flights during the COVID-19 crisis. This was criticized by environmental groups. The plan was not put into action due to EU rules.
Frederiksen's government made an agreement with Aalborg Portland. This cement company is Denmark's largest carbon emitter. The agreement stated they did not have to reduce their emissions below 1990 levels. Frederiksen had previously said she would protect the company.
Her government has also been criticized for allowing state-owned companies to build more fossil fuel infrastructure. This includes a 115 km natural gas pipeline. This project has a high cost for Denmark. The Climate Minister confirmed the pipeline would not reduce carbon emissions or create jobs.
The Danish Council on Climate Change advises the government. In February 2021, they said it was unlikely Frederiksen's government would meet its 2030 emission target.
Personal Life
Mette Frederiksen has two children from her first marriage.
On 15 July 2020, Frederiksen married her long-time boyfriend, Bo Tengberg. He is a film director. They were married at the Magleby Church on the island of Møn.
Images for kids
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Mette Frederiksen in 2023
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Mette Frederiksen
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Mette Frederiksen with then-President of the United States Donald Trump
See also
In Spanish: Mette Frederiksen para niños
