Poul Hartling facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Poul Hartling
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| 5th United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees | |
| In office 1 January 1978 – 31 December 1985 |
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| Preceded by | Sadruddin Aga Khan |
| Succeeded by | Jean-Pierre Hocké |
| 21st Prime Minister of Denmark | |
| In office 19 December 1973 – 13 February 1975 |
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| Monarch | Margrethe II |
| Preceded by | Anker Jørgensen |
| Succeeded by | Anker Jørgensen |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs | |
| In office 2 February 1968 – 11 October 1971 |
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| Prime Minister | Hilmar Baunsgaard |
| Preceded by | Hans Tabor |
| Succeeded by | Knud Børge Andersen |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 14 August 1914 Copenhagen, Denmark |
| Died | 30 April 2000 (aged 85) Copenhagen, Denmark |
| Political party | Venstre |
Poul Hartling (born August 14, 1914 – died April 30, 2000) was an important Danish politician and diplomat. A politician helps lead a country, and a diplomat works to build good relationships with other countries. He was the leader of the Venstre political party from 1965 to 1977. Hartling also served as the Prime Minister of Denmark from 1973 to 1975. Before that, he was the country's foreign minister from 1968 to 1971. Later in his career, he worked for the United Nations as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees from 1978 to 1985.
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Early Life and Education
Poul Hartling studied theology and became a priest in 1939. He later became the head of a school that trained teachers. This background in education and religion helped him in his later public life.
Political Career in Denmark
Hartling was a member of the Danish parliament, called the Folketing, for many years. He served from 1957 to 1960, and again from 1964 to 1977. During this time, he also became the leader of the Venstre party, guiding them from 1965 to 1977.
Serving as Foreign Minister
From 1968 to 1971, Poul Hartling was the Foreign Minister of Denmark. In this role, he was responsible for Denmark's relationships with other countries. He worked under Prime Minister Hilmar Baunsgaard.
Becoming Prime Minister
Poul Hartling became Prime Minister of Denmark in 1973. This was a challenging time in Danish politics because many new parties had entered parliament after the 1973 election. His government, made up of only his own party, had only 22 out of 179 seats in parliament. This meant it was a minority government, which can be difficult because it needs support from other parties to pass laws.
Helping Children and Youth
Even with a challenging political situation, Hartling's government passed an important law called the Social Assistance Act of 1974. This law made sure that local governments provided day-care and recreation centers for children and young people. It was a big step in supporting families and young people in Denmark.
Work with the United Nations
After his time as Prime Minister, Poul Hartling left Danish politics to work for the United Nations. He became the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in 1978. The UNHCR is an organization that helps people who have been forced to leave their homes because of war or danger.
Receiving the Nobel Peace Prize
As the head of the UNHCR, Hartling played a key role in helping refugees around the world. In 1981, he accepted the Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of the UNHCR. This award recognized the important work the organization did to help people in need. He served in this role until 1985.
Later Life
Poul Hartling passed away on April 30, 2000, in Copenhagen, Denmark. He is buried with his wife, Elsebeth, in Hørsholm.
