Michael de Laine

By Michael de Laine, The Copenhagen Voice, 7 April 2009

Denmark’s new Prime Minister, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, has named Claus Hjort Frederiksen Minister of Finance, the post Løkke Rasmussen held before he became Prime Minister during the weekend.

Inger Støjberg, the Liberals’ spokesperson on political affairs, succeeds Frederiksen as Minister of Employment. She also takes over as Minister for Gender Equality, part of the remit of Karen Jespersen, who resigned as minister on Friday.

Jespersen’s other responsibilities as Minister for Social Welfare and Minister of the Interior go to Karen Ellemann.

The formal change of ministers will occur at an audience with Queen Margrethe II at Amalienborg Palace at 11.00 am today. Karen Jespersen will attend an audience at 11.30, to officially take her leave.

The ministerial transfers will be at 12.30 at the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Social Affairs, and at 1.15 pm at the Ministry of Employment.

A broader reshuffle of Lars Løkke Rasmussen’s cabinet can be expected at the start of 2010, in the run-up to the next general election, which must be held by 23 November 2011.

It is unlikely that this reshuffle will occur before the UN climate summit, COP15, in Copenhagen in December, an important event for the government. The Prime Minister will also want to see whether the recent initiatives to help Denmark ride out the international financial crisis are working or must be adjusted before the voters have their say.