Thorning-Schmidt I Cabinet

The cabinet of Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt was the cabinet government of Denmark from 3 October 2011[1] to 3 February 2014. It was a coalition between the Social Democrats, the Danish Social Liberal Party and the Socialist People's Party. On 9 August 2013, Helle Thorning-Schmidt made a cabinet reshuffle and on 12 December 2013, she made a second cabinet reshuffle. The cabinet resigned on 3 February 2014, following the Socialist People's Party left the government on 30 January 2014. It was succeeded by the Cabinet of Helle Thorning-Schmidt II

Thorning-Schmidt I Cabinet

74th Cabinet of Denmark
Cabinet of Helle Thorning-Schmidt in front of Amalienborg
Date formed3 October 2011
Date dissolved3 February 2014
People and organisations
Head of stateMargrethe II of Denmark
Head of governmentHelle Thorning-Schmidt
Member partySocial Democrats
Social Liberal Party
Socialist People's Party
Status in legislatureCoalition minority government
Opposition partyVenstre
Opposition leaderLars Løkke Rasmussen
History
Election(s)parliamentary election
Incoming formation2011
Outgoing formation2014
PredecessorLøkke Rasmussen Cabinet
SuccessorThorning-Schmidt Cabinet II

Because of the government's minority status and its dependency on the support of the opposition, Venstre, the government had to jettison many of the policies that it had given during the election campaign. Although critics have accused the government of breaking its promises, other studies argue that it has already accomplished half of its stated goals, blaming instead poor public relations strategies for its increasingly negative public image.[2]

Government formations

At the parliamentary election on 15 September 2011, the governing Liberal Party remained the single largest party with the addition of one seat while the Social Democrats lost a seat. However, a three-party coalition of opposition parties together with the supporting Red-Green Alliance won a larger share of seats than the incumbent Liberal-Conservative government and their supporting parties the Liberal Alliance and Danish People's Party.[3] Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen then tendered the cabinet's resignation to Queen Margrethe II on 16 September,[4] following which she met with the leaders of all parties. She then tasked Social Democrat Helle Thorning-Schmidt with negotiating the formation of a new government. Rasmussen's cabinet remained in office as a caretaker government until 3 October, when Thorning-Schmidt's cabinet was sworn in making her the first female Prime Minister.[5] The Social Liberal Party and the Socialist People's Party also became part of the three-party government.[6] It was the first time the Socialist People's Party joined a government since its foundation in 1959.[3]

On 30 January 2014 Annette Vilhelmsen, the leader of Socialist People's Party announced that the party would be leaving government, the result of extended turmoil over the proposed sale of DONG Energy shares to Goldman Sachs.[7]

List of ministers and portfolios

The Social Democrats had ten ministers including the Prime Minister. The smaller Social Liberal Party and Socialist People's Party each had six ministers.[1]

PortfolioMinisterTookofficeLeftofficeParty
Prime Minister's Office
Prime Minister3 October 20113 February 2014 Social Democrats
Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Economy and Interior3 October 20113 February 2014 Social Liberals
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Minister for Foreign Affairs3 October 201112 December 2013 SF
12 December 201330 January 2014 SF
Minister for Development Cooperation3 October 201121 November 2013 Social Liberals
21 November 20133 February 2014 Social Liberals
Minister for European Affairs3 October 20119 August 2013 Social Democrats
9 August 20133 February 2014 (abolished) Social Democrats
Minister for Trade and Investment3 October 20119 August 2013 (abolished) SF
Ministry of Finance
Minister for Finance3 October 20113 February 2014 Social Democrats
Ministry of Justice
Minister for Justice3 October 201112 December 2013 Social Democrats
12 December 20133 February 2014 Social Democrats
Ministry of Defence
Minister for Defence3 October 20119 August 2013 Social Democrats
9 August 20133 February 2014 Social Democrats
Ministry of Culture
Minister for Culture3 October 20115 December 2012 Social Liberals
6 December 20123 February 2014 Social Liberals
Ministry of Taxation
Minister for Taxation
Thor Möger Pedersen
3 October 201116 October 2012 SF
16 October 201212 December 2013 SF
12 December 201330 January 2014 SF
Ministry of Science, Innovation and Higher Education
Minister for Research, Innovation and Higher Education3 October 20113 February 2014 Social Liberals
Ministry of Economic and Business Affairs
Minister for Business and Growth3 October 201116 October 2012 SF
16 October 20129 August 2013 SF
9 August 20133 February 2014 Social Democrats
Ministry of Housing, Urban and Rural Affairs
Minister for the City, Housing and Rural Affairs3 October 20113 February 2014 Social Democrats
Ministry of Employment
Minister for Employment3 October 20113 February 2014 Social Democrats
Ministry of Education
Minister for Education3 October 20113 February 2014 Social Democrats
Ministry of Social Affairs
Minister for Integration and Social Affairs3 October 20119 August 2013 Social Democrats
9 August 201330 January 2014 SF
Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries
Minister for Food, Agriculture and Fisheries3 October 20119 August 2013 Social Democrats
9 August 201312 December 2013 Social Democrats
12 December 20133 February 2014 Social Democrats
Ministry of Climate and Energy
Minister for Climate and Energy3 October 20113 February 2014 Social Liberals
Ministry of Transport
Minister for Transport3 October 20119 August 2013 Social Democrats
9 August 201330 January 2014 SF
Ministry of Health
Minister for Health and Prevention3 October 201130 January 2014 SF
Ministry of the Environment
Minister for the Environment3 October 201130 January 2014 SF
Minister for Ecclesiastical Affairs
Minister for Equality, Church and Nordic Cooperation3 October 20113 February 2014 Social Liberals

References

  1. "Here are Denmark's new ministers". The Copenhagen Post. 3 October 2011. Archived from the original on 3 October 2011. Retrieved 4 October 2011.
  2. Weaver, Ray (May 18, 2012). "Government on track but off message". The Copenhagen Post. Retrieved September 20, 2012. Governmental parties are taking a beating at the polls, but recent study shows they've accomplished half their goals [...] Many feel that the Socialdemokraterne-Radikale-Socialistisk Folkeparti (S-R-SF) government, which has been slipping further and further down in the polls, has not done an effective job letting the public know when it gets something right.
  3. Xuan, Min (16 September 2011). "Danish PM tenders resignation to Queen". Xinhua News Agency. Archived from the original on February 21, 2014. Retrieved 4 October 2011.
  4. "Denmark to get 1st female PM after left wins vote". Dawn. 16 September 2011. Retrieved 4 October 2011.
  5. "Danish PM-elect seen unveiling govt Sunday". Reuters. 1 October 2011. Retrieved 4 October 2011.
  6. "SF leaves government, Vilhelmsen steps down". The Copenhagen Post . 30 January 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
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