RASMUSSEN, POUL NYRUP

born June 15, 1943, Esbjerg, Den. Danish economist and politician, leader of the Social Democrats beginning in 1992 and prime minister beginning in 1993. After receiving a degree in economics from the University of Copenhagen in 1971, Rasmussen worked for the Danish Trade Union Council until 1986. He became its chief economist in 1980. He served as the managing director of the Employees' Capital Pension Fund and as chairman of Lalandia Invest from 1986 to 1988. In 1987 he became deputy chairman of the Social Democrats and in 1988 a member of the Folketing, or parliament. He became the leader of the Social Democrats in 1992. His positions on major issues were generally to the left and included support for increases in spending for Denmark's extensive welfare programs. When the Conservative-Liberal coalition government that had ruled Denmark for a decade fell in January 1993, Rasmussen formed a four-party coalition and became the country's prime minister. One of his first tasks was to persuade voters, including members of the Social Democrats, to support the Maastricht Treaty establishing the European Union. The treaty had been defeated the previous year, but voters approved a revised version that included special exemptions for Denmark. The vote was widely seen as an indication of Rasmussen's ability as a political leader. In the 1994 elections the Social Democrats lost ground to both the right and the left, primarily to opponents of European unification. Nonetheless, Rasmussen was able to continue in office as head of a coalition government. In the 1998 elections Rasmussen once again held on to office when his coalition won a one-seat majority in parliament. As prime minister, he continued to promote Denmark's participation in the European Union.