Krag, Jens Otto
Krag, Jens Otto
(yĕns ô`tō kräkh), 1914–78, Danish political leader. A Social Democrat, he entered parliament in 1947 and played a leading role in shaping Denmark's postwar economic policies. He served as minister of commerce, industry, and shipping (1947–50), minister of economy and labor (1953–57), and minister of external economic affairs (1957–58). Minister of foreign affairs (1958–62,1966–67), he was twice prime minister (1962–68, 1971–72). In 1972 his goal of European Community membership for Denmark was realized when his government won a resounding victory in a referendum on the issue; one day later Krag resigned the premiership for personal reasons.Krag, Jens Otto
Born Sept. 15, 1914, in Randers. Danish statesman and politician.
Krag was trained as an economist. In 1930 he joined the Union of Social Democratic Youth of Denmark. In 1947 he became a member of the Danish Folketing from the Social Democratic Party. From 1947 to 1950 he was minister of trade, industry, and shipping. From 1950 to 1952 he served as an adviser in the Danish embassy in the USA. From 1953 to 1957 he was minister of labor and minister of economics. He served as minister of foreign affairs from 1958 to 1962. Krag was prime minister from 1962 to 1968 and again from 1971 to 1972. He was chairman of the Social Democratic Party from November 1962 to September 1973.