Søren Gade

Søren Gade Jensen (born 27 January 1963) is a Danish politician who has been a Member of the European Parliament since 2019, representing the Liberal party, Venstre. He has been a Liberal member of the Danish Parliament from 2001. Before entering politics, he was a military officer and businessman.

Søren Gade MEP
Member of the European Parliament for Denmark
Incumbent
Assumed office 2 July 2019[1][2]
Defence Minister of Denmark
In office 24 April 2004 – 23 February 2010
Monarch	Margrethe II
Prime Minister	Lars Løkke Rasmussen
Preceded by	Svend Aage Jensby
Succeeded by	Gitte Lillelund Bech
Personal details
Born	27 January 1963 Holstebro, Denmark
Nationality	Danish
Political party	Venstre (Denmark)
Spouse(s)	Helle Buskbjerg Poulsen (dead 2008)
Military service
Allegiance	Denmark
Branch/service	Royal Danish Army
Years of service	1983–present
Rank	Major in the Reserve
Unit	Jutland Dragoon Regiment

Political career

Gade served as Defence Minister from 2004 to 2010, when he replaced Svend Aage Jensby. During his time in office, he led Danish efforts to maintain public support for the deployment of 750 troops in Afghanistan.[3] Gade resigned his position due to a long time conflict with the media after the publishing of a fake Arabic translation of Thomas Rathsack's book, telling the defence's methods in the Afghan war.

Gade was elected to the European Parliament in 2019.[4] A member of the Renew Europe group, he has since been serving as chair of the Committee on Fisheries and as member of the Committee on Transport and Tourism. In 2020, he also joined the Special Committee on Beating Cancer.[5]

In addition to his committee assignments, Gade is Chair of the Parliament's delegation for relations with India.[6]

Other activities

• European Leadership Network (ELN), Member of the Advisory Board[7]

Controversy

In 2015, newspaper Jyllands-Posten published a document that it said proved that Gade tried to hide the Danish military's agreement with security company Blackwater whose contractors killed 17 Iraqi civilians and wounded 20 in Baghdad's Nisour Square in 2007.[8]

Personal life

In January 2008 Gade lost his wife Helle Buskbjerg Poulsen after years of cancer.[9]

Awards and Decorations

	Commander of the Order of the Dannebrog
	Reserve Long Service Medal
	Homeguard Medal of Merit
	Homeguard 25 Years Service Decoration
	Badge of Honor of the Reserve Officers Association of Denmark
	Peace Prize Medal (Denmark)
	The Nordic Blue Berets Medal of Honour

References

1. "Key dates ahead". European Parliament. 20 May 2017. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
2. "Key dates ahead". BBC News. 22 May 2017. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
3. Alistair MacDonald (February 24, 2010), Wall Street Journal.
4. "Valgresultat EP-valg Danmark - Følg resultatet for EP-valget her | DR". www.dr.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 2020-05-16.
5. Members of the Special Committee on Beating Cancer European Parliament, press release of July 9, 2020.
6. Søren GADE European Parliament.
7. Advisory Board European Leadership Network (ELN).
8. Court orders Denmark to compensate 18 Iraqis over torture Al Jazeera, June 15, 2018.
9. Archived March 12, 2007, at the Wayback Machine

Sources

• Biography on the website of the Danish Parliament (Folketinget). Retrieved on 2008-02-20.

External links

• Media related to Søren Gade at Wikimedia Commons