Jesper Petersen (S) is the new Minister for Higher Education and Science
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen (S) reshuffled the government before noon on Monday, 16 August. The changes came about due to Joy Mogensen’s decision to step down as Minister for Culture and Ecclesiastical Affairs. Ane Halsboe-Jørgensen has been appointed as the new Minister for Culture and Ecclesiastical Affairs, while Jesper Petersen is now the new Minister for Higher Education and Science.
It was announced in a government press release that Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen would present the two new ministers at Amalienborg on Monday, 16 August at 11am. The cabinet reshuffle came about after Joy Mogensen (S) announced the day before that she was stepping down as Minister for Culture and Ecclesiastical Affairs.
The current Minister for Higher Education and Science Ane Halsboe-Jørgensen will take over the keys to the Ministry of Culture and Ecclesiastical Affairs.
Her position as Minister for Higher Education and Science will be filled by Jesper Petersen, who has been the political spokesperson for the Social Democrats since 2019.
Jesper Petersen is 39 years old and graduated in 2007 with a Bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Copenhagen. Following this, he was elected to parliament as a Socialist People’s Party (SF) candidate. Since then he has changed parties to join the Social Democrats, which he has represented in parliament since 2013.
The Prime Minister's Office announced that due to the current situation in Afghanistan, the transfer of minister posts would not take place immediately, but instead this would happen at a later stage.
Translated by Marian Flanagan