Poul Nyrup Rasmussen

Poul Nyrup Rasmussen (born June 15, 1943) was the Prime Minister of Denmark from January 25, 1993 to November 27, 2001. He was the leader of the governing Social Democratic Party. The loss of power in 2001 to Anders Fogh Rasmussen was the first time since 1920 that his party had lost its position as the largest party in the Folketing (parliament).

His government presided over the referendum on Danish participation in the Euro on September 28, of 2000. Paticipation in the Euro was rejected by 53.2% of the electorate. The defeat of this major government initiative was seen as a serious blow to his credibility.

He was born to a working class family in Esbjerg in 1943. He was educated at the University of Copenhagen, earning a degree in 1971.

Mr. Rasmussen plans to run for a seat in the European Parliament in 2004.

He enjoys: (according to his official website) Ella Fitzgerald, Maria Callas, Elvis Presley, The Olsen Brothers, Mozart, Bach, Niels Henning �rsted Pedersen, Jesper Thilo and spending time with his wife and grandchild.