Anker Jørgensen
Encyclopedia
Anker Jørgensen is a former Danish
Prime Minister
and Foreign Minister
. He led or represented the Social Democratic Party
for well over 30 years.
to Johannes Albert Jørgensen and Maria Jørgensen. He was brought up by close members of his family. In 1948 he married Ingrid Kvist Pedersen (17 August 1922 – 18 October 1997) whom he remained married to until her death in 1997. They had 4 children. Throughout this period, he lived in the working-class area of Sydhavnen, an inner city district of Copenhagen
.
He began his political carer early, and in 1950 he became a member of a trade union
. He led the Danish Workers Union, SiD, between 1968 and 1972. Whilst he was chairman of the Danish Workers Union, he was elected to the Parliament of Denmark for the first of many times in 1964.
as Prime Minister of Denmark
following the European Union Referendum
of that year. He would hold this position for 14 months until the election
when he would be succeeded by liberal
Poul Hartling
.
After just over a year in opposition, he would return as Prime Minister of Denmark
with a Social Democratic minority government. In 1978 he expanded the government by including Liberals
in a "grand coaltion" government in order to cooperate in solving urgent economic problems. This coalition would last until 23 October 1979
, and for a brief period of two months in 1978 he concurrently held the position of foreign minister. During this time, Anker Jørgensen would preside over the electoral age referendum
.
For the rest of his period in office, he would lead a solitary Social Democrat
government. He stepped down as prime minister on 10 September 1982 due to an uncertain parliamentary situation, he did, however, remain as leader of the Social Democrats
until his resignation in 1987 when he was succeeded by Svend Auken
. Throughout his time in office, he showed strong leadership and guided Denmark into the EEC
and further developed Denmark’s social and welfare systems, but his policies also created a huge state budget deficit, which was compensated for by large state loans, increasing the Danish state debt substantially.
He was the head of the Danish delegation to the Nordic Council
. Jørgensen was elected "Dane Of The Year" in 1990. He has written several autobiographies.
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...
Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
and Foreign Minister
Foreign minister
A Minister of Foreign Affairs, or foreign minister, is a cabinet minister who helps form the foreign policy of a sovereign state. The foreign minister is often regarded as the most senior ministerial position below that of the head of government . It is often granted to the deputy prime minister in...
. He led or represented the Social Democratic Party
Social Democrats (Denmark)
The Social Democrats , is a Danish political party committed to the political ideology of social democracy. It is the major coalition partner in Denmark's government since the 2011 parliamentary election, and party leader Helle Thorning-Schmidt is the current Prime Minister of Denmark...
for well over 30 years.
Early political and personal life
Anker Henrik Jørgensen was born on 13 July 1922 in a rich area of CopenhagenCopenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
to Johannes Albert Jørgensen and Maria Jørgensen. He was brought up by close members of his family. In 1948 he married Ingrid Kvist Pedersen (17 August 1922 – 18 October 1997) whom he remained married to until her death in 1997. They had 4 children. Throughout this period, he lived in the working-class area of Sydhavnen, an inner city district of Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
.
He began his political carer early, and in 1950 he became a member of a trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
. He led the Danish Workers Union, SiD, between 1968 and 1972. Whilst he was chairman of the Danish Workers Union, he was elected to the Parliament of Denmark for the first of many times in 1964.
Prime minister
In 1972, he succeeded Jens Otto KragJens Otto Krag
Jens Otto Krag was a Danish politician. He was Prime Minister from 1962 to 1968 and again from 1971 to 1972....
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....
following the European Union Referendum
Danish European Communities membership referendum, 1972
A referendum on joining the European Economic Community was held in Denmark on 2 October 1972. The result was 63.3% in favour with a turnout of 90.1%...
of that year. He would hold this position for 14 months until the election
Danish parliamentary election, 1973
Parliamentary elections were held in Denmark on 4 December 1973 and in the Faroe Islands on 13 December. It has since been referred to as the Landslide Election , as five new or previously unrepresented parties won seats, and more than half the members of the parliament were replaced...
when he would be succeeded by liberal
Venstre (Denmark)
VenstreThe party name is officially not translated into any other language, but is in English often referred to as the Liberal Party. Similar rules apply for the name of the party's youth wing Venstres Ungdom. , full name Venstre, Danmarks Liberale Parti , is the largest political party in Denmark...
Poul Hartling
Poul Hartling
Poul Hartling was a Danish diplomat and politician. He was a member of the Liberal Party and served as Prime Minister of Denmark from 1973 to 1975....
.
After just over a year in opposition, he would return as Prime Minister of Denmark
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
with a Social Democratic minority government. In 1978 he expanded the government by including Liberals
Venstre (Denmark)
VenstreThe party name is officially not translated into any other language, but is in English often referred to as the Liberal Party. Similar rules apply for the name of the party's youth wing Venstres Ungdom. , full name Venstre, Danmarks Liberale Parti , is the largest political party in Denmark...
in a "grand coaltion" government in order to cooperate in solving urgent economic problems. This coalition would last until 23 October 1979
Danish parliamentary election, 1979
Parliamentary elections were held in Denmark on 23 October 1979. The Social Democratic Party remained the largest in the Folketing, with 68 of the 179 seats. Voter turnout was 85.6% in Denmark proper, 65.4% in the Faroe Islands and 50.3% in Greenland....
, and for a brief period of two months in 1978 he concurrently held the position of foreign minister. During this time, Anker Jørgensen would preside over the electoral age referendum
Danish electoral age referendum, 1978
A referendum on lowering the voting age from 20 to 18 was held in Denmark on 19 September 1978. It was held after the Danish government lowering the age of majority from 20 to 18 in 1976. The change was approved by 53.8% of voters with a turnout of 63.2%...
.
For the rest of his period in office, he would lead a solitary Social Democrat
Social Democrats (Denmark)
The Social Democrats , is a Danish political party committed to the political ideology of social democracy. It is the major coalition partner in Denmark's government since the 2011 parliamentary election, and party leader Helle Thorning-Schmidt is the current Prime Minister of Denmark...
government. He stepped down as prime minister on 10 September 1982 due to an uncertain parliamentary situation, he did, however, remain as leader of the Social Democrats
Social Democrats (Denmark)
The Social Democrats , is a Danish political party committed to the political ideology of social democracy. It is the major coalition partner in Denmark's government since the 2011 parliamentary election, and party leader Helle Thorning-Schmidt is the current Prime Minister of Denmark...
until his resignation in 1987 when he was succeeded by Svend Auken
Svend Auken
Svend Gunnarsen Auken was a Danish politician. He represented the Social Democrats as a member of the Danish parliament from 1971 until his death....
. Throughout his time in office, he showed strong leadership and guided Denmark into the EEC
European Economic Community
The European Economic Community The European Economic Community (EEC) The European Economic Community (EEC) (also known as the Common Market in the English-speaking world, renamed the European Community (EC) in 1993The information in this article primarily covers the EEC's time as an independent...
and further developed Denmark’s social and welfare systems, but his policies also created a huge state budget deficit, which was compensated for by large state loans, increasing the Danish state debt substantially.
He was the head of 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...
. Jørgensen was elected "Dane Of The Year" in 1990. He has written several autobiographies.
Public Perception
- Whilst in government, Anker Jørgensen became famous for being the People’s Gentleman.
- He gained a reputation as being a hard, dedicated worker.
Awards
- 1970 Poul HenningsenPoul HenningsenPoul Henningsen , Danish author, architect and critic, was one of the leading figures of the cultural life of Denmark between the World Wars. In Denmark, he is often referred to as PH.-Early life and education:...
price, PH-prisen - 1974 Mathildepris by the Danish Women's Association
- 1991 Drassows Legat
- 1993 Jytte-prisen
- 1994 Cultural price by the The Danish Confederation of Trade Unions
- 2007 Tribute album De største er de små - sange til Anker [The Small Ones are the Greatest – Songs for Anker] by various artists.
- 2007 Honorary member of the Social Democratic Youth of DenmarkSocial Democratic Youth of DenmarkThe Danmarks Socialdemokratiske Ungdom is the youth organisation of the Danish Social Democrats.- History :The Social Democratic Youth movement of Denmark was established in 1920 after a break-up of the former youth organisation, the Social Democratic Youth League...
Books
- Fra mine dagbøger, 1989-1990. ISBN 87-557-1543-5 og ISBN 87-557-1544-3
- 1972-1975: Bølgegang
- 1975-1977: I smult vande
- 1978-1982: Brændingen
- Fra Christianshavn til Christiansborg : erindringer 1922-1972 / Anker Jørgensen, Fremad, 1994. ISBN 87-557-1832-9