Søren Gade
Søren Gade MEP | |
---|---|
Member of the European Parliament for Denmark | |
Assumed office 2 July 2019[1][2] | |
Defence Minister of Denmark | |
In office 24 April 2004 – 23 February 2010 | |
Monarch | Margrethe II |
Prime Minister | Lars Løkke Rasmussen |
Preceded by | Svend Aage Jensby |
Succeeded by | Gitte Lillelund Bech |
Personal details | |
Born | Holstebro, Denmark | 27 January 1963
Nationality | Danish |
Political party | Venstre (Denmark) |
Spouse(s) | Helle Buskbjerg Poulsen (dead 2008) |
Military service | |
Allegiance | Denmark |
Branch/service | Royal Danish Army |
Years of service | 1983–present |
Rank | Major in the Reserve |
Unit | Jutland Dragoon Regiment |
Søren Gade Jensen (born 27 January 1963) is a Danish politician who has been a Member of the European Parliament since 2019, representing the Liberal party, Venstre. He was a Liberal member of the Folketing from 2001 to 2019. Before entering politics, he was a military officer and businessman.
He was also CEO of the Danish business organization Landbrug & Fødevarer from 2012 to 2014.[3]
Political career[]
Gade served as Defence Minister from 2004 to 2010, when he replaced Svend Aage Jensby. During his time in office, he led Danish efforts to maintain public support for the deployment of 750 troops in Afghanistan.[4] Gade resigned his position due to a long time conflict with the media after the publishing of a fake Arabic translation of Thomas Rathsack's book, telling the defence's methods in the Afghan war.
Gade was elected to the European Parliament in 2019.[5] A member of the Renew Europe group, he has since been serving as chair of the Committee on Fisheries and as member of the Committee on Transport and Tourism. In 2020, he also joined the Special Committee on Beating Cancer.[6]
In addition to his committee assignments, Gade is Chair of the Parliament's delegation for relations with India.[7]
Other activities[]
- European Leadership Network (ELN), Member of the Advisory Board[8]
Controversy[]
In 2015, newspaper Jyllands-Posten published a document that it said proved that Gade tried to hide the Danish military's agreement with security company Blackwater whose contractors killed 17 Iraqi civilians and wounded 20 in Baghdad's Nisour Square in 2007.[9]
Personal life[]
In January 2008 Gade lost his wife Helle Buskbjerg Poulsen after years of cancer.[10]
Awards and Decorations[]
Commander of the Order of the Dannebrog | |
Reserve Long Service Medal | |
Homeguard Medal of Merit | |
Homeguard 25 Years Service Decoration | |
Badge of Honor of the Reserve Officers Association of Denmark | |
Peace Prize Medal (Denmark) | |
The Nordic Blue Berets Medal of Honour |
References[]
- ^ "Key dates ahead". European Parliament. 20 May 2017. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
- ^ "Key dates ahead". BBC News. 22 May 2017. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
- ^ ritzau (2012-05-07). "Søren Gade bliver landbrugets nye førstemand". Politiken. JP/Politikens Hus. Archived from the original on 8 July 2015. Retrieved 2015-07-08.
- ^ Alistair MacDonald (February 24, 2010), [1] Wall Street Journal.
- ^ "Valgresultat EP-valg Danmark - Følg resultatet for EP-valget her | DR". www.dr.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 2020-05-16.
- ^ Members of the Special Committee on Beating Cancer European Parliament, press release of July 9, 2020.
- ^ Søren GADE European Parliament.
- ^ Advisory Board European Leadership Network (ELN).
- ^ Court orders Denmark to compensate 18 Iraqis over torture Al Jazeera, June 15, 2018.
- ^ [2] Archived March 12, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
External links[]
- Biography on the website of the Danish Parliament (Folketinget). Retrieved on 2008-02-20.
- Media related to Søren Gade at Wikimedia Commons
- 1963 births
- Living people
- Danish Defence Ministers
- People from Holstebro Municipality
- Aarhus University alumni
- MEPs for Denmark 2019–2024
- Members of the Folketing 2001–2005
- Members of the Folketing 2005–2007
- Members of the Folketing 2007–2011
- Members of the Folketing 2015–2019
- Danish politician stubs