New Danish consumer affairs minister named


dpa German Press Agency
Published: Friday December 15, 2006

Copenhagen- Carina Christensen was Friday named new Danish Consumer Affairs Minister, the day after her predecessor Lars Barfoed handed in his formal resignation to Queen Margrethe. Christensen, 34, has for the past five years been a member of parliament and chaired a committee on education.

In initial remarks Christensen said she had "no problems" in cooperating with the populist Danish People's Party that backs the ruling centre-right minority government.

Barfoed, 49, announced his resignation late Wednesday when his position became untenable after the populists said they had no confidence in him. He has returned to parliament.

Earlier this week Barfoed and the ministry were criticized by the National Audit Office for failing to conduct food safety inspections.

Barfoed's resignation was a setback for the government which has been under fire for its deployment of troops in Iraq.

The Conservative Party is junior partner in the coalition with Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen's Liberal Party.

Pia Kjaersgaard, leader of the Danish People's Party, welcomed the announcement while the opposition Social Democrats urged Christensen to seek broad political solutions in parliament.

The Consumer Affairs Ministry has in recent years been criticized for failure to conduct inspections.

Earlier this year, tabloid Ekstra Bladet and public broadcaster DR reported that a wholesale meat retailer had sold 65 tons of frozen meat that was over four years old.

© 2006 dpa German Press Agency