Poul Schlüter
Encyclopedia
Poul Holmskov Schlüter (pʌʊ̯l hʌlmsɡʌʊ̯ slydɐ, 3 April 1929) is a Danish
politician, who served as Prime Minister of Denmark
from 1982 to 1993.
Born in Tønder
, south Jutland
, he graduated from the University of Copenhagen
in 1957 with a degree in law, and joined the bar in 1960. Schlüter was a member of the Danish Parliament (Folketinget) for the Conservative People's Party
from 1964 to 1994. He was also Chairman of the Conservative People's Party from 1974 to 1977 and from 1981 to 1993.
In 1982, after Prime Minister Anker Jørgensen
was forced to resign, Schlüter cobbled together a four-party coalition and was appointed his successor. He was the first member of the Conservative People's Party to become Prime Minister, as well as the first conservative to hold the office since 1901. During his time as Prime Minister, he was named "Nordic Politician of the Year" (in 1984). He has since been granted a large number of Danish and international awards and medals.
Previously, he had served as a member of the Council of Europe
from 1971 to 1974, and had headed the Danish Delegation to the Nordic Council
, where he served as a member of the Council Presidium, in 1978 and 1979. He retired as Prime Minister in 1993 after an inquiry found that he had misinformed the Danish Parliament. The case was known as the Tamil Case
, (in Danish: "Tamilsagen"), as it involved asylum requests from Tamil
refugees.
Following his retirement as Prime Minister in 1993, Schlüter served as a member of the European Parliament
from 1994 to 1999, the first three years as Vice-President of the body.
In 2003, Schlüter was appointed by the Swedish Minister of Co-operation as her special envoy to promote freedom of movement in the Nordic countries. Poul Schlüter was to work on ways of increasing individual freedom of movement and present specific proposals to the Nordic Council
Session in October 2003.
In 2004, Poul Schlüter co-founded the first Danish free-market think tank CEPOS
, and gave the opening speech at CEPOS' opening reception at the Hotel D'Angleterre in Copenhagen.
Schlüter's autobiography, Sikken et liv (What a Life), was published in 1999 and has been reprinted several times.
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
politician, who served as Prime Minister of Denmark
Prime Minister of Denmark
The Prime Minister of Denmark is the head of government in Danish politics. The Prime Minister is traditionally the leader of a political coalition in the Folketing and presides over the cabinet....
from 1982 to 1993.
Born in Tønder
Tønder
Tønder is a municipality in Region of Southern Denmark on the Jutland peninsula in south Denmark. The municipality covers an area of 1,278 km², and has a total population of 40,367...
, south Jutland
Jutland
Jutland , historically also called Cimbria, is the name of the peninsula that juts out in Northern Europe toward the rest of Scandinavia, forming the mainland part of Denmark. It has the North Sea to its west, Kattegat and Skagerrak to its north, the Baltic Sea to its east, and the Danish–German...
, he graduated from the University of Copenhagen
University of Copenhagen
The University of Copenhagen is the oldest and largest university and research institution in Denmark. Founded in 1479, it has more than 37,000 students, the majority of whom are female , and more than 7,000 employees. The university has several campuses located in and around Copenhagen, with the...
in 1957 with a degree in law, and joined the bar in 1960. Schlüter was a member of the Danish Parliament (Folketinget) for the Conservative People's Party
Conservative People's Party (Denmark)
The Conservative People's Party , also known as Conservatives is a Danish political party.-History:The party was founded 1915 based mostly on its predecessor, Højre , but also on the Free Conservatives and a moderate faction of Venstre , the liberals.The party has participated in several coalition...
from 1964 to 1994. He was also Chairman of the Conservative People's Party from 1974 to 1977 and from 1981 to 1993.
In 1982, after Prime Minister Anker Jørgensen
Anker Jørgensen
Anker Jørgensen is a former Danish Prime Minister and Foreign Minister. He led or represented the Social Democratic Party for well over 30 years.-Early political and personal life:...
was forced to resign, Schlüter cobbled together a four-party coalition and was appointed his successor. He was the first member of the Conservative People's Party to become Prime Minister, as well as the first conservative to hold the office since 1901. During his time as Prime Minister, he was named "Nordic Politician of the Year" (in 1984). He has since been granted a large number of Danish and international awards and medals.
Previously, he had served as a member of the Council of Europe
Council of Europe
The Council of Europe is an international organisation promoting co-operation between all countries of Europe in the areas of legal standards, human rights, democratic development, the rule of law and cultural co-operation...
from 1971 to 1974, and had headed the Danish Delegation to the Nordic Council
Nordic Council
The Nordic Council is a geo-political, inter-parliamentary forum for co-operation between the Nordic countries. It was established following World War II and its first concrete result was the introduction in 1952 of a common labour market and free movement across borders without passports for the...
, where he served as a member of the Council Presidium, in 1978 and 1979. He retired as Prime Minister in 1993 after an inquiry found that he had misinformed the Danish Parliament. The case was known as the Tamil Case
Tamil Case (Denmark)
The Tamil Case is the name of a case about family reunification in Denmark of Tamil refugees from the Sri Lankan Civil War. The case led to the resignation of the government led by Poul Schlüter in 1993.-History:...
, (in Danish: "Tamilsagen"), as it involved asylum requests from Tamil
Tamil people
Tamil people , also called Tamils or Tamilians, are an ethnic group native to Tamil Nadu, India and the north-eastern region of Sri Lanka. Historic and post 15th century emigrant communities are also found across the world, notably Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius, South Africa, Australia, Canada,...
refugees.
Following his retirement as Prime Minister in 1993, Schlüter served as a member of the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
from 1994 to 1999, the first three years as Vice-President of the body.
In 2003, Schlüter was appointed by the Swedish Minister of Co-operation as her special envoy to promote freedom of movement in the Nordic countries. Poul Schlüter was to work on ways of increasing individual freedom of movement and present specific proposals to the Nordic Council
Nordic Council
The Nordic Council is a geo-political, inter-parliamentary forum for co-operation between the Nordic countries. It was established following World War II and its first concrete result was the introduction in 1952 of a common labour market and free movement across borders without passports for the...
Session in October 2003.
In 2004, Poul Schlüter co-founded the first Danish free-market think tank CEPOS
CEPOS
The Danish Centre for Political Studies, also known as CEPOS, is an independent research institution recognized under the Danish state, which works as a classical liberal/free-market conservative think-tank in Denmark.-History:...
, and gave the opening speech at CEPOS' opening reception at the Hotel D'Angleterre in Copenhagen.
Schlüter's autobiography, Sikken et liv (What a Life), was published in 1999 and has been reprinted several times.