Anders Fogh Rasmussen

Rasmussen, Anders Fogh (än'dərs fō räs'mʊsən), 1953-, Danish political leader, prime minister of Denmark (2001-9), b. Ginnerup. Trained as an economist at the Univ. of Aarhus, he joined the Danish Folketing (parliament) as a member of the Liberal party in 1978 at age 25, becoming the body's youngest member. He was minister for taxation (1987-92) and minister for economic affairs (1990-92). From 1992 to 1998, he was the Liberal party's national spokesperson, becoming party chairman in 1998. After the 2001 elections, he became prime minister of a Liberal-led center-right coalition; it remained in office after the 2005 and 2007 elections. He resigned as prime minister in Apr., 2009, after being elected NATO's secretary-general; his term at NATO began in Aug., 2009.