Margrethe Vestager | |
---|---|
![]() Vestager in 2019 | |
Executive Vice President of the European Commission for A Europe Fit for the Digital Age | |
Assumed office 1 December 2019 On leave: 5 September 2023 – 8 December 2023[a] | |
President | Ursula von der Leyen |
Preceded by | Position established[b] |
European Commissioner for Competition | |
Assumed office 1 November 2014 On leave: 5 September 2023 – 8 December 2023[c] | |
President | Jean-Claude Juncker Ursula von der Leyen |
Preceded by | Joaquín Almunia |
Deputy Prime Minister of Denmark | |
In office 3 October 2011 – 2 September 2014 | |
Prime Minister | Helle Thorning-Schmidt |
Preceded by | Lars Barfoed |
Succeeded by | Morten Østergaard |
Minister of the Economy and Interior | |
In office 3 October 2011 – 2 September 2014 | |
Prime Minister | Helle Thorning-Schmidt |
Preceded by | Brian Mikkelsen (Economy) Bertel Haarder (Interior) |
Succeeded by | Morten Østergaard |
Leader of the Social Liberal Party | |
In office 15 June 2007 – 2 September 2014 | |
Preceded by | Marianne Jelved |
Succeeded by | Morten Østergaard |
Minister of Education | |
In office 23 March 1998 – 27 November 2001 | |
Prime Minister | Poul Nyrup Rasmussen |
Preceded by | Ole Vig Jensen |
Succeeded by | Ulla Tørnæs |
Minister of Ecclesiastical Affairs | |
In office 23 March 1998 – 21 December 2000 | |
Prime Minister | Poul Nyrup Rasmussen |
Preceded by | Ole Vig Jensen |
Succeeded by | Johannes Lebech |
Personal details | |
Born | Glostrup, Denmark | 13 April 1968
Political party | Social Liberal Party |
Other political affiliations | Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party |
Spouse |
Thomas Jensen (m. 1994) |
Children | 3 |
Education | University of Copenhagen |
Margrethe Vestager (Danish pronunciation: [mɑˈkʁeˀtə ˈvestˌɛˀjɐ]; born 13 April 1968) is a Danish politician currently serving as Executive Vice President of the European Commission for A Europe Fit for the Digital Age since December 2019[2] and European Commissioner for Competition since 2014. Vestager is a member of the Danish Social Liberal Party, and of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party (ALDE) on the European level.
Prior to joining the European Commission, she served in the Danish governments of Poul Nyrup Rasmussen as Minister for Ecclesiastical Affairs from 1998 to 2000 and Minister of Education from 1998 to 2001. She was leader of the Social Liberals from 2007 to 2014, and served as Minister of Economic Affairs and the Interior under Helle Thorning-Schmidt from 2011 to 2014.
Following the 2014 European Parliament election, Vestager was nominated as Denmark's European Commissioner in the Juncker Commission,[3] becoming Commissioner for Competition.[4] In the 2019 European Parliament election, she was one of ALDE's seven lead candidates.[5] After the election, Vestager was nominated as the Renew Europe group's candidate for President of the European Commission.[6] After the election of Ursula von der Leyen as President, Vestager was re-nominated as Denmark's Commissioner. She retained her Competition portfolio while also becoming one of the Commission's three Executive Vice Presidents, with responsibility for "A Europe Fit for the Digital Age".[7]
In 2023, European media called Vestager a waning star. Mistakes of judgement overshadowed her second mandate with the European Commission, such as the unsuccessful appointment of a US economics professor as Chief Economist for competition.[8][9]
In her capacity as Commissioner for Competition, Vestager has gained international recognition for investigating, fining, or bringing lawsuits against major multinational companies including Google,[10] Apple Inc.,[11] Amazon,[12] Facebook, Qualcomm,[13] Siemens, Alstom,[14] and Gazprom.[15][16] She has been described as "the rich world's most powerful trustbuster"[17] and "the world's most famous regulator".[13] Vestager has been the target of criticism by American corporations and US President Donald Trump for her efforts throughout her tenure as European Commissioner for Competition.[18][19]
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