The Speaker

According to the Constitutional Act, the Danish Parliament must have a Speaker who is elected immediately after a newly-elected Parliament convenes for the first time.

Større

The main responsibilities of the Speaker are to provide optimal conditions for parliamentary work, to ensure that parliamentary sessions are properly conducted and that Members of Parliament (MPs) have favourable working conditions.

The Speaker is also head of the Administration of the Danish Parliament, which employs about 465 people. The Administration comprises a number of different departments whose task is to ensure that MPs can concentrate on their political work.

The Presidium comprises the Speaker and four Deputy Speakers

The Speaker performs his work with the help of 4 Deputy Speakers, who are elected together with the Speaker. The Speaker and the Deputy Speakers jointly constitute the supreme authority in the Parliament, called the Presidium. The members of the Presidium take turns to chair sessions in the Chamber.
The Presidium of the Danish Parliament

The Speaker represents the Danish Parliament abroad

In addition to his day-to-day work in the Parliament, the Speaker also performs other tasks. For example, he and the other members of the Presidium are hosts to the Royal Family when the Parliament opens on the first Tuesday in October. The Presidium also receives presidents of foreign parliaments, heads of state, ambassadors and other prominent guests from abroad. Furthermore, the Presidium visits parliaments in other countries, primarily for the purpose of exchanging experience.

Speakers over the years

Below is a chronological list of Speakers of the Danish Parliament from 1933 to today:

  • Søren Gade (The Liberal Party) 2022-
  • Henrik Dam Kristensen (The Social Democratic Party) 2019-2022
  • Pia Kjærsgaard (The Danish People's Party) 2015-2019 
  • Mogens Lykketoft (The Social Democratic Party) 2011-2015
  • Thor Pedersen (The Liberal Party) 2007-2011 
  • Christian Mejdahl (The Liberal Party) 2003-2007 
  • Ivar Hansen (The Liberal Party) 1998-2003 
  • Erling Olsen (The Social Democratic Party) 1994-1998 
  • Henning Rasmussen (The Social Democratic Party) 1993-1994 
  • H.P. Clausen (The Conservative Party) 1989-1993 
  • Erik Ninn-Hansen (The Conservative Party) 10 January 1989 - 3 October 1989 
  • Svend Jakobsen (The Social Democratic Party) 1981-1989 
  • K.B. Andersen (The Social Democratic Party) 1978-1981 
  • Karl Skytte (The Social Liberal Party) 1968-1978 
  • Julius Bomholt (The Social Democratic Party) 1964-1968 
  • Gustav Pedersen (The Social Democratic Party) 1950-1964 
  • Julius Bomholt (The Social Democratic Party) 1945-1950 
  • Hans Rasmussen (The Social Democratic Party) 1933-1945 

Contact

The Speaker of the Danish Parliament

Telephone: +45 3337 5107

Editor: Formands- og Direktionssekretariatet