Jens Otto Krag
Jens Otto Krag ( born September 15, 1914 in Randers, † June 22, 1978 in Skiveren, Frederikshavn Municipality ) was a Danish social democratic politician.
Background and education
The son of a tobacco dealer studied political science and economics (1940 cand polit ). He found employment in Vareforsyningsdirektorat, which should ensure the supply of the population with essential goods during the Second World War. In 1973 he was a lecturer in International Politics and Organization at the University of Aarhus.
Political career
1947-73 Member of the Danish Parliament the Folketing, Minister of Commerce 1947-50, Economic and Labour Minister 1953-57, Minister of Foreign Trade 1957-58, Foreign Minister 1958-62 and 1966 /67. Danish Prime Minister 1962-68 and 1971-72. Party leader of the Social Democrats 1965-72. Krag successfully campaigned under great personal commitment for accession to the EEC in Denmark.
In 1966 he was awarded the International Charlemagne Prize of Aachen in recognition of his contribution to European economic cooperation and a common defense policy.
" Father of the welfare state "
As secretary of the socialization committee of his party Krag won in 1945 a decisive influence to be on their work program Fremtidens Danmark ( The Denmark the future), earning him the nickname Fremtidens Krag ( future Krag ) and the reputation earned, the ideological leader of the modern Danish welfare state. The program included a number of wide cross- reform proposals, the Communist- oriented voters should bind, such as elements of a planned economy, democratization of economic life by strengthening the councils, state-controlled banks and insurance. However, were only implemented relatively moderate approaches: redistribution through an income- equalizing tax policy, the pursuit of full employment, increased social and political activity of the state.
Krag counts with Jørgen Paldam, By Hækkerup, Lis Groes and Henning Friis to a group of social democratic economists who promoted the expansion of the welfare state in the 1950/60er years. Krag was attested great talent for rapid reception and concise formulations as an original thinker, he is not. The Keynesian fiscal and economic policy of his government corresponded to the European trend. 1963, the Krag government to date, the largest complex of economic laws by the so-called helhedsløsning (total solution); However, its effect was brief and superficial.
Krag realized early on how important was the economic basis and ensure that the European market for the Danish welfare society. Not least because he campaigned resolutely for EEC membership of his country, for which he won a clear majority in a referendum in 1972.
The last years
After winning the popular vote in 1972 Krag resigned from all offices. His marriage with the popular Danish actress Helle Virkner was divorced after 14 years in 1973. He shunned the public and increasingly devoted himself in his summer home in Skiveren at Skagen his memoirs and painting. Krags grave can be found in the cemetery Vestre Kirkegård in Copenhagen.