Sofie Carsten Nielsen | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Carsten Nielsen in 2011 | |
| Leader of theSocial Liberal Party | |
| In office 7 October 2020 – 2 November 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Morten Østergaard |
| Succeeded by | Martin Lidegaard |
| Minister for Higher Education and Science | |
| In office 3 February 2014 – 28 June 2015 | |
| Prime Minister | Helle Thorning-Schmidt |
| Preceded by | Morten Østergaard |
| Succeeded by | Esben Lunde Larsen |
| Member of theFolketing | |
| Assumed office 15 September 2011 | |
| Constituency | Greater Copenhagen |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1975-05-24)24 May 1975 (age 50) |
| Political party | Social Liberals |
Sofie Carsten Nielsen (born 24 May 1975) is a Danish politician, who was formerly the leader of theDanish Social Liberal Party from October 2020 to November 2022. In the 2000s, Nielsen began her political career with theEuropean Parliament as a consultant before working for theMinistry of Gender Equality as a deputy minister. After being elected to theFolketing at the2011 Danish general election for theGreater Copenhagen constituency, Nielsen became theMinister for Higher Education and Science in 2014. Nielsen remained in her minister position until she was replaced byEsben Lunde Larsen in 2015.
She left the Folketing on April 17. 2023 to become a lobbyist for DI.
In an interview withNaturejobs, Nielsen mentioned that she originally did not plan to become involved in politics.[1] She started her career at theEuropean Parliament as a consultant from 2002 to 2004 before becoming a deputy minister of the Ministry of Gender Equality until 2009.[2] After a brief position at theDanish Society of Engineers, Nielsen was elected to theFolketing for theGreater Copenhagen riding at the2011 Danish general election. During her term, Nielsen was a spokesperson for several topics including gender equality and the European Union.[3]
With theDanish Social Liberal Party, Nielsen became their vice-chairperson in 2011 before being promoted to chair in 2012.[2] After holding her chair position for two years, Nielsen became theMinister for Higher Education and Science in 2014.[3] As Minister for Higher Education and Science, Nielsen declared in 2014 that 4,000 student admissions to low turnover programs would be cut.[4] Universities Denmark later negotiated a deal with her to have the number of cuts lowered and implemented starting in 2018.[5] On 28 June 2015, Nielsen was replaced byEsben Lunde Larsen for the position of Minister for Higher Education and Science.[6]
After her minister position ended, Nielsen returned to her position as the Danish Social Liberal Party's vice-chairperson in 2015.[2] In October 2020, Nielsen was namedMorten Østergaard's replacement as head of the Danish Social Liberal Party after Østergaard resigned from his leadership position.[7]
As a result of theCommission of Inquiry into the Case of the Killing of Mink, she announced that, if Prime MinisterMette Frederiksen would not call a general election before 4 October 2022, her party would support amotion of no confidence against Frederiksen.[8][9] Frederiksen went on to announcea snap election on 5 October,[10] with Nielsen and her party supporting a second term for Frederiksen.[11]
The Social Liberal Party went on to lose 9 out of 16 seats in the election. Receiving only a fourth of the votes she received in2019, Nielsen took responsibility for the poor result and resigned as leader the day after on 2 November 2022.[12] She was succeeded byMartin Lidegaard one day later.[13]
Nielsen was born on 24 May 1975 inHørsholm,Denmark. Nielsen earned amaster's degree in politics and administration from theCollege of Europe in 2001 and aMaster of Science from theUniversity of Copenhagen in 2002. Nielsen is married with two children.[2]
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Minister of Higher Education and Science 2014–2015 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Leader of theSocial Liberal Party 2020– | Succeeded by Incumbent |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
