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Denmark reshuffles Cabinet positions
Source: Agencies |
February 24, 2010, Wednesday
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DENMARK'S prime minister announced a major government shake-up yesterday, changing more than a dozen Cabinet posts including the ministers of defense, justice and foreign affairs to build his own team 10 months after taking office.
The reshuffle - which put women in charge of the defense and foreign ministries for the first time - had been widely expected since Lars Loekke Rasmussen took over as leader of the center-right government in April. He replaced former prime minister and Liberal Party colleague Anders Fogh Rasmussen, who became NATO secretary-general.
No major changes were expected in government policy, as the minority Liberal-Conservative Cabinet commands majority support in Parliament with the backing of the anti-immigration Danish People's Party and a smaller centrist group.
Analysts say the changes were probably delayed by the UN climate conference in Copenhagen in December. Loekke Rasmussen chaired the summit of more than 100 world leaders, and focused much of his energy last year on preparing for it.
"This is a totally new team that matches the new times," the 45-year-old leader said after presenting the new Cabinet to Queen Margrethe, Denmark's figurehead monarch.
Loekke Rasmussen said the team would steer the country out of recession and win the next election, set before the end of 2011.
With leadership changes in 16 of the 19 ministries, yesterday's reshuffle was the largest in Denmark since the center-right government took power in 2001.
Defense Minister Soeren Gade, replaced by 41-year-old newcomer Gitte Lillelund Bech of the Liberal Party, had said he was stepping down after months of pressure.
The reshuffle - which put women in charge of the defense and foreign ministries for the first time - had been widely expected since Lars Loekke Rasmussen took over as leader of the center-right government in April. He replaced former prime minister and Liberal Party colleague Anders Fogh Rasmussen, who became NATO secretary-general.
No major changes were expected in government policy, as the minority Liberal-Conservative Cabinet commands majority support in Parliament with the backing of the anti-immigration Danish People's Party and a smaller centrist group.
Analysts say the changes were probably delayed by the UN climate conference in Copenhagen in December. Loekke Rasmussen chaired the summit of more than 100 world leaders, and focused much of his energy last year on preparing for it.
"This is a totally new team that matches the new times," the 45-year-old leader said after presenting the new Cabinet to Queen Margrethe, Denmark's figurehead monarch.
Loekke Rasmussen said the team would steer the country out of recession and win the next election, set before the end of 2011.
With leadership changes in 16 of the 19 ministries, yesterday's reshuffle was the largest in Denmark since the center-right government took power in 2001.
Defense Minister Soeren Gade, replaced by 41-year-old newcomer Gitte Lillelund Bech of the Liberal Party, had said he was stepping down after months of pressure.
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