Anders Fogh Rasmussen II Cabinet
# Anders Fogh Rasmussen II Cabinet

Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen retained his parliamentary support in the 2005 Danish parliamentary election, and was able to continue as head of his government. On 18 February 2005, he presented his updated cabinet, the Cabinet of Anders Fogh Rasmussen II. One of the main issues of the cabinet was administrative reform that slashed the number of municipalities and replaced the thirteen counties with five regions.

Anders Fogh Rasmussen has referred to the reform as the biggest reform in thirty years. Furthermore, a reform of the police and judicial systems was initiated in January 2007, changing the numbers of police districts and city courts from 54 to 12 and 82 to 22 respectively. Rasmussen retained parliamentary support in the 2007 election and continued as Prime Minister in the Cabinet of Anders Fogh Rasmussen III, formed on 23 November 2007.

## Notable events

* On 8 June 2005 somebody made an arson attack on Minister for Refugees, Immigrants and Integration Rikke Hvilshøj's home. Rikke Hvilshøj, her husband, and her two small children escaped unharmed. It is not clear who was behind the attack (Though one unknown group has claimed responsibility), or what the motive were. Following the attack security was stepped up for several ministers.
* In January 2006 Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen became embroiled in the controversy of the Muhammad cartoons which initially were published in the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten.
* On 13 December 2006 Lars Barfoed was forced to resign as Minister of Family and Consumption because of issues with the ministry's food inspections. Carina Christensen was named as Barfoed's replacement.
* On 21 February 2007 Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen said that the 460 Danish troops in Iraq will have left by August.

## Changes from the Cabinet of Anders Fogh Rasmussen I

* Bertel Haarder changed from being Minister for Development Cooperation and Minister for Refugees, Immigrants and Integration to being Church Minister and Minister of Education.
* The much-criticised Tove Fergo, who failed to get reelected to parliament (though that is not a requirement for a minister) was replaced as Church Minister.
* Ulla Tørnæs switched from being Minister of Education to being Minister for Development Cooperation.
* Rikke Hvilshøj was appointed Minister for Refugees, Immigrants and Integration.
* Lars Barfoed replaced Henriette Kjær as Minister of Family and Consumption, after there had been some criticism Henriette Kjær because her personal finances were in disorder. Barfoed himself resigned, effective 14 December 2006.

## List of ministers and portfolios

Some periods in the table below start before 18 February 2005 or end after 23 November 2007 because the minister was also in the Cabinet of Anders Fogh Rasmussen I or III.

| Portfolio | Minister | Took office | Left office | Party |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| Prime Minister's Office ||||||
| Prime Minister | Anders Fogh Rasmussen | 27 November 2001 | 5 April 2009 | Venstre |
| Minister of Economic and Business Affairs (de facto) Deputy Prime Minister | Bendt Bendtsen | 27 November 2001 | 9 September 2008 | Conservatives |
| Minister for Foreign Affairs | Per Stig Møller | 27 November 2001 | 23 February 2010 | Conservatives |
| Minister for Finance | Thor Pedersen | 27 November 2001 | 23 November 2007 | Venstre |
| Minister of Employment | Claus Hjort Frederiksen | 27 November 2001 | 7 April 2009 | Venstre |
| Minister of the Interior and Health | Lars Løkke Rasmussen | 27 November 2001 | 23 November 2007 | Venstre |
| Minister for Justice | Lene Espersen | 27 November 2001 | 10 September 2008 | Conservatives |
| Minister of Defence | Søren Gade | 24 April 2004 | 23 February 2010 | Venstre |
| Minister for Culture | Brian Mikkelsen | 27 November 2001 | 10 September 2008 | Conservatives |
| Minister for Taxation | Kristian Jensen | 2 August 2004 | 24 February 2010 | Venstre |
| Minister for Nordic Cooperation | Connie Hedegaard | 18 February 2005 | 23 November 2007 | Conservatives |
| Minister of Traffic & Minister for Energy | Flemming Hansen | 27 November 2001 | 12 September 2007 | Conservatives |
| Minister of Traffic & Minister for Energy | Jakob Axel Nielsen | 12 September 2007 | 23 November 2007 | Conservatives |
| Minister for Family and Consumer Affairs | Lars Barfoed | 18 February 2005 | 14 December 2006 | Conservatives |
| Minister for Family and Consumer Affairs | Carina Christensen | 15 December 2006 | 23 November 2007 | Conservatives |
| Minister for Food | Hans Christian Schmidt | 2 August 2004 | 12 September 2007 | Venstre |
| Minister for Food | Eva Kjer Hansen | 12 September 2007 | 23 February 2010 | Venstre |
| Minister for Science, Technology and Development | Helge Sander | 23 March 1998 | 23 February 2010 | Venstre |
| Minister of Education | Bertel Haarder | 18 February 2005 | 23 February 2010 | Venstre |
| Minister for Ecclesiastical Affairs | Bertel Haarder | 18 February 2005 | 23 November 2007 | Venstre |
| Minister of Social Affairs & Minister for Gender Equality | Eva Kjer Hansen | 2 August 2004 | 12 September 2007 | Venstre |
| Minister of Social Affairs & Minister for Gender Equality | Karen Jespersen | 12 September 2007 | 23 November 2007 | Venstre |
| Minister for the Environment | Connie Hedegaard | 2 August 2004 | 23 November 2007 | Conservatives |
| Minister for Development Cooperation | Ulla Tørnæs | 18 February 2005 | 23 February 2010 | Venstre |
| Minister for Refugees, Immigrants and Integration | Rikke Hvilshøj | 18 February 2005 | 23 November 2007 | Venstre |
