Erik Eriksen (20 November 1902 – 7 October 1972) was a Danish politician, who served as the

prime minister of Denmark The prime minister of Denmark (, , ) is the head of government in the Kingdom of Denmark comprising the three constituent countries: Denmark, Greenland and the Faroe Islands. Before the creation of the modern office, the kingdom did not init ...

from 1950 to 1953 and as the president of the

Nordic Council The Nordic Council is the official body for formal inter-parliamentary Nordic cooperation among the Nordic countries. Formed in 1952, it has 87 representatives from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden as well as from the autonomo ...

in 1956. Eriksen was leader of the Danish Liberal party '' Venstre'' from 1950 to 1965. He served as

Prime Minister of Denmark The prime minister of Denmark (, , ) is the head of government in the Kingdom of Denmark comprising the three constituent countries: Denmark, Greenland and the Faroe Islands. Before the creation of the modern office, the kingdom did not init ...

from 30 October 1950 to 30 September 1953 as leader of the Eriksen cabinet forming a minority government of ''Venstre'' and the Conservative People's Party. Eriksen was a farmer by profession. The main accomplishment by his government was a revision of the Danish constitution, voted into law in a referendum held in 1953 simultaneously with the parliamentary elections. In addition, a family allowance law was passed in 1952, along with other reforms during Eriksen's time as prime minister. The Rent Act of June 1951, while permitting certain rent increases, extended rent control and security of tenure to cover houses constructed after 1939. In addition, the Public Assistance Act of March 1953 introduced special treatment and assistance for patients with polio. The former Venstre leader and former Prime Minister

Knud Kristensen Knud Kristensen (26 October 1880 – 28 September 1962) was Prime Minister (Denmark), Prime Minister of Denmark from 7 November 1945 to 13 November 1947 in the first elected government after the German occupation of Denmark during World War II. ...

had broken away from Venstre to form his own party, '' De Uafhængige''. This was one of reasons why the

social democrat Social democracy is a Social philosophy, social, Economic ideology, economic, and political philosophy within socialism that supports Democracy, political and economic democracy and a gradualist, reformist, and democratic approach toward achi ...

Hans Hedtoft was able to secure the parliamentary support to replace Eriksen as Prime Minister and form the Hedtoft cabinet. After 1953, Eriksen continued as the leader of the opposition but in the long run his consequent alliance with the Conservatives proved an obstacle to a co-operation with the Radical Left Party. He therefore resigned as the leader of his party in 1965 and was succeeded by

Poul Hartling Poul Hartling (14 August 1914 – 30 April 2000) was a Danish politician and diplomat. He was leader of Venstre from 1965 to 1977, and served as Prime Minister of Denmark from 1973 to 1975. Prior to that, he served as foreign minister from 1968 ...

References

*Kristian Hvidt, ''Statsministre i Danmark fra 1913 til 1995'' (1995) *Social Democracy and Welfare Capitalism: A Century of Income Security Politics by Alexander Hicks *Growth to Limits: The Western European Welfare States Since World War II, Volume 4 edited by Peter Flora {{DEFAULTSORT:Eriksen, Erik 1902 births 1972 deaths People from Faaborg-Midtfyn Municipality Prime ministers of Denmark Members of the Folketing 20th-century Danish politicians Agriculture ministers of Denmark Leaders of Venstre (Denmark) 20th-century Danish farmers