Morten Østergaard

Morten Østergaard MP
Leader of the Social Liberal Party
In office 2 September 2014 – 7 October 2020
Preceded by	Margrethe Vestager
Succeeded by	Sofie Carsten Nielsen
Deputy Prime Minister of Denmark
In office 2 September 2014 – 28 June 2015
Prime Minister	Helle Thorning-Schmidt
Preceded by	Margrethe Vestager
Succeeded by	Claus Hjort Frederiksen
Minister for Economy and Interior
In office 2 September 2014 – 28 June 2015
Prime Minister	Helle Thorning-Schmidt
Preceded by	Margrethe Vestager
Succeeded by	Simon Emil Ammitzbøll-Bille
Minister for Taxation
In office 3 February 2014 – 2 September 2014
Prime Minister	Helle Thorning-Schmidt
Preceded by	Jonas Dahl
Succeeded by	Benny Engelbrecht
Minister for Higher Education and Science
In office 3 October 2011 – 3 February 2014
Prime Minister	Helle Thorning-Schmidt
Preceded by	Charlotte Sahl-Madsen
Succeeded by	Sofie Carsten Nielsen
Member of the Folketing
In office 8 February 2005 – 16 June 2021
Constituency	East Jutland (2007—2021) Århus (2005—2007)
Personal details
Born	(1976-06-17) 17 June 1976 (age 48) Aarhus, Denmark
Political party	Social Liberal Party
Spouse	Line Legarth Sigel
Alma mater	University of Aarhus

Morten Østergaard (born 17 June 1976 in Aarhus) is a Danish politician who served as Denmark's Minister for Economic and Interior Affairs from 2 September 2014 to 28 June 2015. Leader of the Danish Social Liberal Party from September 2014 to October 2020, he was a member of the Folketing from 2005 to 2021. He was furthermore Minister for Research, Innovation and Higher Education from 2011 to 2014 and for a short term in 2014 also Minister for Taxation.^[1]

Background

He holds a master's degree in political science from the University of Aarhus.^[2]

Political career

Østergaard was vice-chairman of the party from 2002 to 2005 and has been a member of parliament since the 2005 election.^[2]

Following the announcement on 31 August 2014 that Margrethe Vestager is to become Denmark's EU Commissioner, Østergaard was elected leader of the Danish Social Liberal Party and was appointed Deputy Prime Minister of Denmark, as well as Minister of the Interior. On 7 October 2020 Østergaard resigned as the leader of the Danish Social Liberal Party due to inappropriate sexual behaviour towards fellow Social Liberal MP Lotte Rod.^[3]

References

1. "Morten Østergaard bliver ny skatteminister". Dr.dk. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
2. "Morten Østergaard (RV)". Ft.dk. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
3. Vestergaard, Nikoline; Jenvall, Line; Byskov Svendsen, Anders; Larsen, Søren; Lindegård Hansen, Rasmus (7 October 2020). "Morten Østergaard trækker sig efter sag om krænkelser". dr.dk. Danmarks Radio Politik. Retrieved 7 October 2020.

External links

• Media related to Morten Østergaard at Wikimedia Commons
• Official website
• Biography on the website of the Danish Parliament (Folketinget)

Political offices
Preceded by Margrethe Vestager	Leader of the Social Liberal Party 2014—2020	Succeeded by Sofie Carsten Nielsen
Preceded by Margrethe Vestager	Minister for Economic Affairs 2014–2015	Succeeded by Simon Emil Ammitzbøll-Bille
Preceded by Margrethe Vestager	Minister of the Interior 2014–2015	Succeeded by Karen Ellemann
Preceded by Jonas Dahl	Minister for Taxation 2014–2014	Succeeded by Benny Engelbrecht
Preceded by Charlotte Sahl-Madsen	Minister of Higher Education and Science 2011–2014	Succeeded by Sofie Carsten Nielsen