Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt has announced the limited government reshuffle that has resulted from the change in leadership of the Socialist People’s Party (SF).

As expected, Holger Nielsen, who was leader of the Socialist People’s Party from 1991 to 2005, is to be Tax Minister to replace Thor Möger Pedersen, while the party’s new leader Annette Vilhelmsen is appointed as Business and Growth Minister instead of Ole Sohn.

Perhaps equally important for Holger Nielsen is that he also takes over Möger Pedersen’s role in the powerful Cabinet Coordination Committee, in which central figures of the three coalition partners determine government policy. Annette Vilhelmsen is thus also a member of the committee.

The reshuffle leaves the remaining four Socialist People’s Party ministers in place: Vilhelmsen’s predecessor Villy Søvndal as foreign minister, Trade and Investment Minister Pia Olsen Dyhr, Health Minister Astrid Krag who competed against Vilhelmsen for the leadership and Environment Minister Ida Auken.

The two new ministers will be presented to the Queen at 11 a.m. and Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt (SocDem), Economy Minister Margrethe Vestager (SocLib) and Annette Vilhelmsen (SocPpl) are to hold a joint news conference at noon.

FACEBOOK – Follow Politiken’s News in English