Peter Christensen (politician, born 1975)

Peter Christensen
Minister of Defence
In office
30 September 2015 – 28 November 2016
Prime MinisterLars Løkke Rasmussen
Preceded byCarl Holst
Succeeded byClaus Hjort Frederiksen
Minister for Nordic Cooperation
In office
30 September 2015 – 28 November 2016
Prime MinisterLars Løkke Rasmussen
Preceded byCarl Holst
Succeeded byKaren Ellemann
Minister of Taxation
In office
8 March 2011 – 3 October 2011
Prime MinisterLars Løkke Rasmussen
Preceded byTroels Lund Poulsen
Succeeded byThor Möger Pedersen
Member of the Folketing
In office
20 November 2001 – 18 June 2015
ConstituencySønderjyllands Amtskreds
Personal details
Born(1975-04-25)25 April 1975
Sønderborg, Denmark
Died4 February 2025(2025-02-04) (aged 49)
Political partyVenstre

Peter Christensen (25 April 1975 – 4 February 2025) was a Danish politician. He represented Venstre. He was an electrician by profession and was a Member of Parliament from 2001 to 2015. He served as Chairman of Venstres Ungdom from 1999 to 2001.

Christensen replaced Troels Lund Poulsen as Minister for Taxation of Denmark from 8 March to 3 October 2011. Thor Möger Pedersen succeeded him as Minister for Taxation. On 30 September 2015, he replaced Carl Holst as Minister of Defence, who stepped down, following a list of personal scandals.[1]

Post-politics

[edit]

After losing his parliamentary seat in the 2015 election, Christensen retired from politics. From 2017 to 2023, he worked in the private sector, including as director of the business organization Aktive Ejere (Active Owners).

Personal life and death

[edit]

Christensen married journalist Josefine Kofoed in 2010. The couple had three children.

In his youth, he survived cancer, but the disease recurred in the early 2020s. He died on 4 February 2025 at the age of 49 after a four-year battle.[2]

Legacy

[edit]
  • Played a key role in tax reforms during his tenure as Minister for Taxation.
  • Strengthened Denmark’s military ties with NATO.
  • Former Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen praised his pragmatism and analytical skills.

Controversies

[edit]
  • **2015 election loss**: Failed to retain his parliamentary seat despite his influence in Venstre, sparking debates about his public image.
  • **Internal party criticism**: His 2003 "10 Theses" proposal for tax cuts faced backlash from Venstre leadership.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Officielt: Peter Christensen bliver ny forsvarsminister". Politiko (in Danish). Retrieved 30 September 2015.
  2. ^ https://politiken.dk/navne/art10280617/Han-k%C3%A6mpede-en-livslang-kamp-mod-kr%C3%A6ft
[edit]
Political offices
Preceded by Minister of Taxation
March–October 2011
Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister of Defence
2015–2016
Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister for Nordic Cooperation
2015–2016
Succeeded by