H. C. Hansen

Infobox Prime Minister
name=Hans Christian Hansen
order=Prime Minister of Denmark
term_start =February 1, 1955
term_end =February 19, 1960
predecessor =Hans Hedtoft
successor =Viggo Kampmann
birth_date =birth date|1906|11|8|mf=y
birth_place =Aarhus, Denmark
death_date =death date and age|1960|2|19|1906|11|8|mf=y
death_place =Copenhagen
party=Social Democrats

Hans Christian Svane Hansen (November 8, 1906 – February 19, 1960), often known as H. C. Hansen or simply H. C., was a social democrat and Prime Minister of Denmark from 29 January 1955 to 19 February 1960 as the head of the Cabinet of H. C. Hansen I and II. Before becoming Prime Minister, H. C. Hansen also served as Finance Minister in the Cabinet of Hans Hedtoft I and Foreign Minister in the Cabinet of Hans Hedtoft II.

As Foreign Minister, H. C. Hansen was seen as the natural successor as Prime Minister and leader of the Social Democrats, when his friend Hans Hedtoft died of a heart attack on 29 January 1955. In addition to becoming Prime Minister, H. C. Hansen also retained the post as Foreign Minister until 1958. One of the laws passed by this government was the universal people's pension.

In March 1957 it had been 4 years since the last election to the Folketing, and as mandated by the Danish constitution new elections were held. After the election H. C. Hansen was able to partner with the Danish Social Liberal Party and Retsforbundet to form the Cabinet of Hans Hedtoft II, also known as the "Triangle Cabinet" ("Trekantsregeringen").

On 25 March 1957 France, West Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg signed the Treaty of Rome to create the European Economic Community. To not be left behind the Danish government first wanted to join a Nordic free trade organization, but that failed and Denmark joined the EFTA on 3 May 1960 instead. Denmark would join the European Economic Community in 1972.

H. C. Hansen died from cancer on 19 February 1960, and was succeeded by Viggo Kampmann in the Social Democrats party and as Prime Minister. He was the second Danish prime minister in a row to die while in office.

References

*Kristian Hvidt, "Statsministre i Danmark fra 1913 til 1995" (1995)

ources

* [http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9039170/HC-Hansen "Encyclopedia Britannica"]