Karen Jespersen

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Karen Moustgaard Jespersen (born 17 January 1947 in Copenhagen) is a Danish politician, a member of the Venstre. Previously she was Social Minister 25 January 1993 to 28 January 1994 in the Cabinet of Poul Nyrup Rasmussen I, and 27 September 1994 to 23 February 2000 in the Cabinet of Poul Nyrup Rasmussen II, III and IV. She was Interior Minister 23 February 2000 to 27 November 2001 in the Cabinet of Poul Nyrup Rasmussen IV. She has been a member of the Folketing since 12 December 1990.

In the book Islamister og Naivister: et anklageskrift (Islamists and Naivists: a bill of indictment), which she wrote together with Ralf Pittelkow, she warns of an underestimation of the Islamist threat. The book is a bestseller in Denmark.

On January 14, 2007, she declared that she is no longer member of the Social Democrats.

In a press release February 1, 2007, the Liberal Party Venstre announced that Karen Jespersen has joined the party and will be a candidate for parliament (Folketinget) in the next election.

Many media analysists has speculated that the announcement had been held back for weeks and eventually used as a diversion from the criticism the danish prime minister, Anders Fogh Rasmussen has experienced because of his alleged knowledge of danish soldiers' handing down of Afghani prisoners to torture in American prison camps.

[edit] References

• Karen Jespersen - Biography from Folketinget.

Political offices
Preceded by Else Winther Andersen	Social Minister of Denmark 25 January 1993 – 28 January 1994	Succeeded by Bente Juncker
Preceded by Yvonne Herløv Andersen	Social Minister of Denmark 27 September 1994 – 23 February 2000	Succeeded by Henrik Dam Kristensen
Preceded by Thorkild Simonsen	Interior Minister of Denmark 23 February 2000 – 27 November 2001	Succeeded by Lars Løkke Rasmussen