Poul Nyrup’s time as Prime Minister was characterized by economic prosperity after the Poor 80s, but is also remembered for extensive privatization of state-owned companies, tightening of public services and the unrest surrounding the early retirement reform in 1998.

Poul Nyrup Rasmussen was born on June 15, 1943 in Esbjerg.

He was national secretary of Frit Forum Landsforbund from 1964 and employed by the Labor Movement’s Business Council from 1965-1971. In 1971, he graduated from the University of Copenhagen and was employed as an economist at LO, where he was Chief Economist 1980-86.

After two years as director of Lønmodtagernes Dyrtidsfond 1986-88, Poul Nyrup Rasmussen was elected to the Danish Parliament in 1988, where he became chairman of the Parliamentary Business Committee.

He was elected chairman of the Social Democratic Party in 1992 and became Prime Minister the following year when Poul Schlüter had to resign as a result of the Tamil affair. Poul Nyrup was Prime Minister until 2001 and continued as party chairman until 2002. From 2004-2009 he was a member of the European Parliament.