Sofie Carsten Nielsen

Sofie Carsten Nielsen (born 24 May 1975) is a Danish politician, who was formerly the leader of the Danish Social Liberal Party from October 2020 to November 2022. In the 2000s, Nielsen began her political career with the European Parliament as a consultant before working for the Ministry of Gender Equality as a deputy minister. After being elected to the Folketing at the 2011 Danish general election for the Greater Copenhagen constituency, Nielsen became the Minister for Higher Education and Science in 2014. Nielsen remained in her minister position until she was replaced by Esben Lunde Larsen in 2015.

Sofie Carsten Nielsen
Carsten Nielsen in 2011
Leader of the Social Liberal Party
In office
7 October 2020 – 2 November 2022
Preceded byMorten Østergaard
Succeeded byMartin Lidegaard
Minister for Higher Education and Science
In office
3 February 2014 – 28 June 2015
Prime MinisterHelle Thorning-Schmidt
Preceded byMorten Østergaard
Succeeded byEsben Lunde Larsen
Member of the Folketing
Assumed office
15 September 2011
ConstituencyGreater Copenhagen
Personal details
Born (1975-05-24) 24 May 1975
Hørsholm, Denmark
Political partySocial Liberals

She left the Folketing on April 17. 2023 to become a lobbyist for DI.

Political career

In an interview with Naturejobs, Nielsen mentioned that she originally did not plan to become involved in politics.[1] She started her career at the European Parliament as a consultant from 2002 to 2004 before becoming a deputy minister of the Ministry of Gender Equality until 2009.[2] After a brief position at the Danish Society of Engineers, Nielsen was elected to the Folketing for the Greater Copenhagen riding at the 2011 Danish general election. During her term, Nielsen was a spokesperson for several topics including gender equality and the European Union.[3]

With the Danish Social Liberal Party, Nielsen became their vice-chairperson in 2011 before being promoted to chair in 2012.[2] After holding her chair position for two years, Nielsen became the Minister for Higher Education and Science in 2014.[3] As Minister for Higher Education and Science, Nielsen declared in 2014 that 4,000 student admissions to low turnover programs would be cut.[4] Universities Denmark later negotiated a deal with her to have the number of cuts lowered and implemented starting in 2018.[5] On 28 June 2015, Nielsen was replaced by Esben Lunde Larsen for the position of Minister for Higher Education and Science.[6]

After her minister position ended, Nielsen returned to her position as the Danish Social Liberal Party's vice-chairperson in 2015.[2] In October 2020, Nielsen was named Morten Østergaard's replacement as head of the Danish Social Liberal Party after Østergaard resigned from his leadership position.[7]

As a result of the Commission of Inquiry into the Case of the Killing of Mink, she announced that, if Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen would not call a general election before 4 October 2022, her party would support a motion of no confidence against Frederiksen.[8][9] Frederiksen went on to announce a snap election on 5 October,[10] with Nielsen and her party supporting a second term for Frederiksen.[11]

The Social Liberal Party went on to lose 9 out of 16 seats in the election. Receiving only a fourth of the votes she received in 2019, Nielsen took responsibility for the poor result and resigned as leader the day after on 2 November 2022.[12] She was succeeded by Martin Lidegaard one day later.[13]

Personal life

Nielsen was born on 24 May 1975 in Hørsholm, Denmark. Nielsen graduated with a politics master's degree from the College of Europe in 2001 and later a Master of Science at the University of Copenhagen in 2002. Nielsen is married with two children.[2]

References
  1. Gould, Julie (16 May 2014). "Spotlight on Women in Science with Sofie Carsten Nielsen". Nature. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
  2. "Sofie Carsten Nielsen (RV)". Folketinget (in Danish). Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  3. "Sofie Carsten Nielsen appointed Minister for Higher Education and Science". Ministry of Higher Education and Science. 3 February 2014. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  4. Myklebust, Jan Petter (3 October 2014). "Minister cuts 4,000 study places with low job prospects". University World News. No. 337. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
  5. Myklebust, Jan Petter (7 November 2014). "Minister compromises on slashing the student intake". University World News. No. 342. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
  6. "New Minister for Higher Education and Science". Ministry of Higher Education and Science. 28 June 2015. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
  7. Barrett, Michael (October 8, 2020). "Leader of Danish political party steps down over sexual harassment case". The Local. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  8. "Danish PM avoids impeachment over illegal mink cull". Reuters. 5 July 2022. Retrieved 2022-07-06.
  9. Henriksen, Morten; Bay Nielsen, Silas (2 July 2022). "Sofie Carsten Nielsen: Vil vælte Mette Frederiksen hvis ikke hun udskriver valg inden 4. oktober". DR (in Danish). Retrieved 2022-07-06.
  10. "Denmark's prime minister calls general election for November 1". Aljazeera. 5 October 2022. Retrieved 2022-10-17.
  11. Schulz, Rasmus Bragh (5 October 2022). "De Radikale bekender endegyldigt kulør: »Vi peger på Mette Frederiksen som statsminister«". Berlingske (in Danish). Retrieved 2022-10-17.
  12. Pabst Andersen, Mette Viktoria (2022-11-02). "Sofie Carsten Nielsen trækker sig som leder for De Radikale". DR (in Danish). Retrieved 2022-11-02.
  13. Høj, Olivia; Bay Nielsen, Silas (3 November 2022). "De Radikale har fået Martin Lidegaard som ny politisk leder". DR (in Danish). Retrieved 2022-11-03.
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