Troels Lund Poulsen

Troels Lund Poulsen
Lund Poulsen in 2026
Deputy Prime Minister of Denmark
In office
23 October 2023 – 3 June 2026
Prime MinisterMette Frederiksen
Preceded byJakob Ellemann-Jensen
Succeeded byOffice abolished[1]
Leader of Venstre
Incumbent
Assumed office
18 November 2023
DeputyStephanie Lose
Preceded byJakob Ellemann-Jensen
Ministerial positions
Minister for Defence
In office
22 August 2023 – 3 June 2026
Prime MinisterMette Frederiksen
Preceded byJakob Ellemann-Jensen
Succeeded byJeppe Bruus Christensen
Acting
6 February 2023 – 1 August 2023
Preceded byJakob Ellemann-Jensen
Succeeded byJakob Ellemann-Jensen
Minister for Economic Affairs
In office
23 October 2023 – 23 November 2023
Prime MinisterMette Frederiksen
Preceded byJakob Ellemann-Jensen
Succeeded byStephanie Lose
In office
15 December 2022 – 22 August 2023[a]
Prime MinisterMette Frederiksen
Preceded bySimon Emil Ammitzbøll-Bille (2019)
Succeeded byJakob Ellemann-Jensen
Minister for Employment
In office
28 November 2016 – 27 June 2019
Prime MinisterLars Løkke Rasmussen
Preceded byJørn Neergaard Larsen
Succeeded byPeter Hummelgaard
Minister for Business Affairs and Growth
In office
28 June 2015 – 28 November 2016
Prime MinisterLars Løkke Rasmussen
Preceded byHenrik Sass Larsen
Succeeded byBrian Mikkelsen
Minister of Education
In office
8 March 2011 – 3 October 2011
Prime MinisterLars Løkke Rasmussen
Preceded byTina Nedergaard
Succeeded byChristine Antorini
Minister for Taxation
In office
23 February 2010 – 8 March 2011
Prime MinisterLars Løkke Rasmussen
Preceded byKristian Jensen
Succeeded byPeter Christensen
Minister for the Environment
In office
23 November 2007 – 23 February 2010
Prime MinisterAnders Fogh Rasmussen
Lars Løkke Rasmussen
Preceded byConnie Hedegaard
Succeeded byKaren Ellemann
Member of the Folketing
Incumbent
Assumed office
20 November 2001
ConstituencyVejle (2001–2007)
East Jutland (2007–present)
Personal details
Born (1976-03-30) 30 March 1976
Vejle, Denmark
PartyVenstre
SpouseAnne Simonsen
Children1

Troels Lund Poulsen (born 30 March 1976) is a Danish politician who has served as leader of Venstre since November 2023. He has been a member of the Folketing since 2001 and has held several ministerial offices in Danish governments.

In November 2007 he joined the Rasmussen III Cabinet, as Minister for the Environment and later served as Minister for Taxation from 2010 to 2011, Minister of Education in 2011, Minister of Commerce, Business and Growth from 2015 to 2016, and Minister for Employment from 2016 to 2019.

He rejoined government in December 2022, serving in the Frederiksen II Cabinet. He was initially appointed Minister for Economic Affairs and later became Minister of Defence in August 2023. Poulsen additionally assumed the role of Deputy Prime Minister in October 2023 and left in June 2026.

Early life

Poulsen was born on 30 March 1976 in Vejle, as an only child to Aage Poulsen, a teacher, and Lise Poulsen.[2] He grew up on a farm in Lindved and attended Lindved School from 1982 to 1992,[3] later graduating from Tørring gymnasium in 1995.[2]

In 1996, Poulsen began studying history at the University of Copenhagen. He remained enrolled until 2001, when he was elected to the Folketing and subsequently gave up on his studies.[4]

Political career

Poulsen joined Venstre’s youth wing, Venstres Ungdom (VU), in 1992. He served as chairman of the VU branch in Tørring-Uldum from 1993 to 1994, and the national chairman of VU from 1997 to 1999.

He was first elected to the Folketing in the 2001 Danish general election, representing the Juelsminde constituency, later renamed the Hedensted.[5] He was re-elected in 2005 and subsequent elections.

From 2001 to 2006, Poulsen served as Venstre’s spokesperson on foreign affairs and gender equality. In September 2006, he became the party’s political spokesperson.

In November 2007 he joined the Rasmussen III Cabinet, as Minister for the Environment. In February 2010, he became Minister for Taxation. His tenure was marked by a major political controversy in 2011 involving leaked tax information concerning Stephen Kinnock, the husband of opposition leader Helle Thorning-Schmidt.[6][7] Although Poulsen denied involvement in any leak or political interference, the case led to a formal inquiry.[6] A later commission found no evidence that he had ordered the leak or attempted to influence the tax authorities, but criticised his handling of the matter, resulting in a parliamentary reprimand.[8]

On 8 March 2011, he was appointed Minister of Education, following Tina Nedergaard's resignation on the same day.[9][10]

On 28 June 2015, he was appointed Minister of Business and Growth in the government of Lars Løkke Rasmussen II.[11] On 28 November 2016, he was moved from here to the position of Minister of Employment.[12]

He was appointed minister of economic affairs on 15 December 2022 when Mette Frederiksen presented her second cabinet.[13] On 6 February 2023, he became acting minister of defence while Jakob Ellemann-Jensen was on leave.[14] On 22 August 2023, the appointment became permanent. On 23 October 2023, he replaced Ellemann-Jensen as Deputy Prime Minister after his resignation as party leader of Venstre.[15][16] He was elected leader of Venstre on 18 November 2023,[17] with Stephanie Lose taking over as minister of economic affairs.[18]

On 9 February 2024, he stated, "Denmark should speed up its military investments after new intelligence indicates that Russia is rearming faster than expected and that it could attack a NATO country within three to five years".[19]

Troels Lund Poulsen taking questions from journalists at Christiansborg Palace in December 2025

On 3 April 2024, he fired Chief of Defence Flemming Lentfer, saying that Lentfer had failed to keep him informed about weapons failures on board HDMS Iver Huitfeldt when it fought in Operation Prosperity Guardian during armed combat against Houthi militants.[20][21]

In 2025, the Auditor general criticised him, and previous ministers, for inadequate security at 18 military bases.[22]

Personal life

Lund Poulsen was in a relationship with fellow Venstre politician Sophie Løhde from 2007 to 2013.[23] He is married to Anne Simonsen, a former secretary at the Ministry of Taxation. The couple have a daughter, born in 2018,[17] and live on a farm at Birkehøjgaard near Tølløse.[24]

Bibliography

  • Atlantiske afstande (2004, co-author)
  • Den forandrede verden (2003, co-author)
  • Tid til forandring (2001)

Honours

National honours

Foreign Honours

Notes

  1. ↑ On leave: 6 February 2023 – 1 August 2023

References

  1. ↑ "Regeringen Mette Frederiksen III" (PDF). Statsministeriet. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 June 2026. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
  2. 1 2 "Troels Lund Poulsen". Folketinget (in Danish). Archived from the original on 29 July 2025. Retrieved 14 May 2026.
  3. ↑ "Minister flytter hjem til mor og far". TV SYD (in Danish). 11 September 2011. Archived from the original on 8 December 2019. Retrieved 14 May 2026.
  4. ↑ "Troels Lund Poulsen - Dansk politiker - Karriere". Lex (in Danish). 12 March 2026. Retrieved 15 May 2026.
  5. ↑ "Troels Lund Poulsen (V)". Ft.dk. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  6. 1 2 analytiker, Rikke Gjøl Mansø Politisk (9 November 2023). "I Venstres sværeste stund træder den kyniske kulissekriger op på scenen". DR (in Danish). Retrieved 15 May 2026.
  7. ↑ "Presset stiger på Troels Lund Poulsen" (in Danish). Danmarks Radio. 4 December 2011.
  8. ↑ "FAKTA: Det konkluderede kommission om Thornings skattesag | Dagens" (in Danish). Retrieved 15 May 2026.
  9. ↑ "Troels Lund Poulsen ny undervisningsminister".
  10. ↑ "Tina Nedergaard stopper for sin datters skyld". DR (in Danish). 8 March 2011. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  11. ↑ "troels lund poulsen bliver undervisningsminister".
  12. ↑ "Troels Lund ny beskæftigelsesminister". Fagbladet 3F. 28 November 2016. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  13. ↑ Bohr, Jakob Kjøgx (15 December 2022). "Her er SVM-regeringens ministre - TV 2". nyheder.tv2.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 15 December 2022.
  14. ↑ "Denmark to start sending Ukraine Leopard 1 tanks before summer – minister". Euromaidanpress. Ukrinform. 11 April 2023.
  15. ↑ "Jakob Ellemann trækker sig fra dansk politik - TV 2". nyheder.tv2.dk (in Danish). 23 October 2023. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  16. ↑ "Ændringer i regeringen". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  17. 1 2 "Pludselig gik det op for Venstres bagland, at Troels Lund Poulsen har en datter" (in Danish). Danmarks Radio. 18 November 2023. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  18. ↑ "Ændringer i regeringen". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  19. ↑ "Danish defence minister warns Russia could attack NATO in 3-5 years -media".
  20. ↑ "Denmark axes its defence chief for failure to report weapons system malfunction". Reuters. 3 April 2024. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  21. ↑ "Denmark fires defense chief after warship malfunctions in Red Sea Houthi battle". POLITICO. 4 April 2024. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  22. ↑ "Statsrevisorerne udtaler hårdest mulige kritik af staten - TV 2". nyheder.tv2.dk (in Danish). 8 September 2025. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  23. ↑ analytiker, Rikke Gjøl Mansø Politisk (9 November 2023). "I Venstres sværeste stund træder den kyniske kulissekriger op på scenen". DR (in Danish). Retrieved 15 May 2026.
  24. ↑ analytiker, Rikke Gjøl Mansø Politisk (9 November 2023). "I Venstres sværeste stund træder den kyniske kulissekriger op på scenen". DR (in Danish). Retrieved 15 May 2026.
  25. ↑ https://www.altinget.dk/christiansborg/navnenyt/forsvarsministeren-modtager-kongelig-orden
  26. ↑ "УКАЗ ПРЕЗИДЕНТА УКРАЇНИ №556/2023 — Офіційне інтернет-представництво Президента України". Офіційне інтернет-представництво Президента України (in Ukrainian). Archived from the original on 5 October 2025. Retrieved 30 November 2025.
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