Bertel Haarder

Bertel Geismar Haarder (born September 7 1944) is a Danish politician and currently the Education Minister and the Minister of Nordic Cooperation in the Cabinet of Anders Fogh Rasmussen III. He represents Venstre, the Danish liberal party. From November 2001 to February 2005 he was Minister for Refugees, Immigrants and Integration in the Cabinet of Anders Fogh Rasmussen I, and enacted a policy of tough measures designed to limit the number of immigrants coming to Denmark.

From September 10 1982 to January 25 1993 he was Education Minister in various cabinets of Poul Schlüter. From September 10 1987 to January 25 1993 he was also the Minister for Science, Technology and Progress.

Haarder was first elected to the Folketing (Parliament) in 1975. Until 1977 he was a member of the Folketing representing North Jutland County constituency, and from 1977 to 1999 he was a member of the Folketing from Copenhagen County constituency. From 2005 to 2007, he was a member from Vestsjælland County constituency, and since 2007 he has been a member from Greater Copenhagen greater constituency. He was also a Member of the European Parliament from 1994 to 2001, and he served as Vice-Chairman of the European Parliament from 1997 to 1999.

Trivia

Bertel Haarder is famous within Venstre and Venstres Ungdom for his ability to write humorous and satirical songs. Haarder usually writes a song for the annual party congress and Venstres Ungdom's national congress. If he chooses to criticize other ministers in the song, he usually makes fun of himself as well.

He also participated once in the Danish version of "1 vs.100" and failed to answer correctly on the first question. However, when participating the the Danish version of "Who wants to be a Millionaire", he and his team-mate, an elementary school teacher, won 1.000.000 DKK. Subsequently he donated his half of the money to the organisation Marjatta.

Bertel Haarder is also a very talentet Croquet-player and he is a double champion of the John Player's Invitational tournament at the Technical University of Denmark, DTU.

References

* [http://www.ft.dk/BAGGRUND/Biografier_english/Bertel_Haarder.htm CV] – from the website of the Danish "Folketing"