Svend Auken

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Svend Auken

Svend (Gunnarsen) Auken [svɛn ˈɑʊ̯ˀg̊ŋ̩] (born 24 May 1943) is a Danish politician. He holds a degree in political science from the University of Aarhus and also taught there for a period in the very early 1970s. He has represented the Social Democrats as a member of the Danish parliament (Folketinget) since 1971.

He was Minister of Employment 1 October 1977 to 10 September 1982 in the Cabinet of Anker Jørgensen II, III, IV, and V

In 1987 Svend Auken succeeded Jørgensen as leader of the Danish Social Democrats, in opposition to the governments of Prime Minister Poul Schlüter. After making big gains in the 1990 general election, but subsequently unable to put together a workable coalition, he was challenged in 1992 as leader of the Danish Social Democrats by Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, who went on to win the internal election. That gave Auken the dubious honour of being the only Social Democratic leader of the 20th century to not become prime minister.

Poul Nyrup Rasmussen went on to become Prime Minister of Denmark in 1993, and Auken served, more or less loyally, as Minister for the Environment 25 January 1993 - 27 September 1994 in the Cabinet of Poul Nyrup Rasmussen I and Minister for the Environment and Energy 27 September 1994 to 27 November 2001 in the Cabinet of Poul Nyrup Rasmussen II, III and IV.

Married to Bettina Heltberg 1966-1993. Children: David (1966), Adam (1968), Louise (1972), Jessica (1979).

Political offices
Preceded by Erling Jensen	Minister of Employment October 1, 1977 – September 10, 1982	Succeeded by Grethe Fenger Møller
Preceded by Anker Jørgensen	Leader of the Danish Social Democrats 1987 – 1992	Succeeded by Poul Nyrup Rasmussen
Preceded by Per Stig Møller	Minister for the Environment January 25, 1993 – November 27, 2001	Succeeded by Hans Christian Schmidt
Preceded by Jann Sjursen	Energy Minister September 27, 1994 – November 27, 2001	Succeeded by Office abolished