Uffe Ellemann-Jensen

Danish politician and former Foreign Minister. Graduating university with a degree in economics in 1969, Uffe Ellemann-Jensen was employed as a reporter by newspaper Berlingske Aftenavis from 1967 to 1970.

Between 1970 and 1975 he became a familiar face for TV viewers as a political reporter for TV-Avisen (1965).

He was editor-in-chief of financial newspaper Børsen from 1975 to 1976. He then shifted careers and undertook politics.

He became a member of the Danish parliament in 1977 for the Venstre party.

He was a surprising choice for Minister of Foreign Affairs when Conservative Poul Schlüter formed his coalition government in 1982, but held the position until early 1993. The first years were controversial for him as he battled an alternative parliamentary majority in issues of NATO and The Cold War, but he came to be respected for his principles and good relations with Eastern Europe.

Ellemann-Jensen was chairman of the Venstre party from 1984 to 1998 and was a major contender for the Prime Minister spot in the 1998 elections, but did not win.

When Irish rock band U2 visited Denmark in 1993 as part of their Zoo TV tour, lead singer Bono, as his alter ego Mac Phisto, called Uffe Ellemann Jensen on the phone but he wasn't home. Instead his wife, Alice Vestergaard, picked up. She then hung up thinking that it was a prank call.

In 1998 he was very close to becoming Prime Minister of Denmark. When the votes were counted he had the support of 89 members of parliament. His opponent, Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, was supported by 90 members of parliament. Their battle to become Prime Minister can be seen in the TV documentary Kandidaterne (1998).