Ludvig Holstein-Ledreborg

Infobox Prime Minister
name=Ludvig Holstein-Ledreborg

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order=Council President of Denmark
term_start =August 16, 1909
term_end =October 28, 1909
predecessor =Niels Neergaard
successor =Carl Theodor Zahle
birth_date =birth date|1839|6|10|mf=y
birth_place =
death_date =death date and age|1912|3|1|1839|6|10|mf=y
death_place =
party=Moderate Venstre

Johan Ludvig Carl Christian Tido lensgreve Holstein-Ledreborg (10 June 1839 – 1 March 1912) was a Danish politician. He was Council President of Denmark for two months, from 16 August to 28 October 1909, as the leader of the Cabinet of Holstein-Ledreborg. He also served as Defence minister of Denmark from 18 October to 28 October 1909.

As one of the few members of the Venstre Reform Party, the Danish Liberal party belonging to the nobility, Holstein was isolated by his colleagues and at the same time took a special position within "Venstre". He was considered an outstanding and varied speaker and as one of "the five leaders of Venstre" but already 1890 he gave up his political life devoting himself to his life as a squire on Zealand.

During the parliamentarian crisis 1909 he suddenly re-entered the scene, formed a "Venstre" cabinet and managed to form a compromise in the question of defence that satisfied all parts. A few days later he engineered a vote of no confidence in his own government (the first one in Danish history), and, after duly losing it, resigned and returned to his quiet private life.

He is Denmark's only Catholic Prime Minister.

Quote

"There has been much talk from honourable members lately of old statements made in the past by me and others. I don't really care much for old statements, but allow me to assure, that that cesspool is of course still at the honourable gentlemen's full disposal".

In parliament, when confronted with old statements contradicting his current defence policy.