Inger Støjberg

1.1. Childhood and Education

Støjberg was born on 16 March 1973. She grew up in Hjerk, a village near Salling in Viborg County, as the daughter of a farmer and a housewife. In 1993, she completed her secondary education at Morsø Gymnasium school in Nykøbing Mors. Subsequently, in 1995, she obtained a one-year higher commerce exam from the Viborg School of Business. The following year, at the same institution, she pursued a one-year study course in economic communication. In 2013, Støjberg earned a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Aalborg. She currently resides in Hadsund.

1.2. Early Professional Endeavors

In 1999, Støjberg graduated with a degree in communications management from the now-defunct InformationsAkademiet. She began her professional career as a trainee reporter at Viborg Bladet newspaper, becoming an editor for the paper in 2001. She later left this role to establish her own communications consultancy business, Støjberg Kommunikation. In 2004, Støjberg authored an official biography of the North Jutlandic pop duo Sussi og Leo.

2.1. Early Political Involvement

Støjberg's political career began with her election to the Viborg City Council, where she served from 1994 to 2002. Concurrently, from 1996 to 1999, she held the position of chairman for Liberalt Oplysnings Forbund (LOF), an organization promoting liberal education. She first ran for the Folketing in 1999, though she was unsuccessful in that attempt. Her parliamentary career officially began in 2001 when her party, then led by Anders Fogh Rasmussen, achieved an electoral victory.

2.2. Member of Parliament and Party Leadership

Since 2005, Støjberg has been an active member of the Venstre party's management. She served as the deputy faction chairwoman in the Folketing from 2005 to 2007. Between 2007 and 2022, she represented the electoral district of Western Jutland. From 2007 to 2009, Støjberg acted as a spokesperson for Venstre. After the conservative camp's electoral defeat in 2011, she became one of the leading public voices for her party in opposition. From 2014 until Venstre's return to power in 2015, she once again served as the party's spokesperson.

In December 2020, Støjberg resigned as vice chair of Venstre following a request from Jakob Ellemann-Jensen, the party chair. This request came after Venstre had supported her impeachment, stemming from a 2016 instruction she issued as Minister for Immigration. Støjberg publicly stated that she did not support an impeachment process against herself, and Ellemann-Jensen further asserted that she had previously demonstrated disloyalty to the party line. In February 2021, Støjberg officially left Venstre.

2.3. Ministerial Positions

In April 2009, following Anders Fogh Rasmussen's transition to a new role in NATO, Støjberg was appointed Minister for Employment and Minister for Gender Equality, succeeding Claus Hjort Frederiksen. In 2010, the ministries underwent restructuring, and Støjberg continued solely as Minister for Employment until the conservative camp's electoral defeat in 2011.

From June 2015 to June 2019, Støjberg served as Minister for Immigration, Integration and Housing. In this role, she became known for her significant tightening of immigration policies, which generated considerable controversy.

3.1. Immigration and Asylum Policy

Støjberg spearheaded a tightening of Danish asylum law, which came into force on 1 September 2015. These new regulations, among other measures, limited the provision of social services for asylum seekers. Støjberg explicitly stated that the aim was to make Denmark an "unattractive" destination for asylum seekers. She initiated an advertising campaign to warn potential asylum applicants against traveling to Denmark, placing ads in Lebanese newspapers and planning for their distribution in ten languages via social media and in asylum seekers' homes.

A particularly criticized measure, known as the "Jewelry law," mandated that asylum seekers surrender a portion of their valuables at the border as a pledge against future service costs. This policy drew sharp criticism, particularly in English-speaking media, with some commentators drawing comparisons to Nazism. In March 2017, Støjberg again attracted international media attention when she publicly celebrated the 50th tightening of immigration law during her ministerial tenure by posting a photograph of a celebratory cake on Facebook.

Støjberg was also directly involved in a controversial application of the Aliens Act, which was used to criminalize non-Danish professors who spoke or wrote publicly, interpreting such actions as a violation of their work visas.

In May 2018, Støjberg published an article in the Danish tabloid BT, suggesting that Muslims observing Ramadan should take leave from work "to avoid negative consequences for the rest of Danish society." She cited bus drivers as an example of workers whose performance could be negatively affected by abstaining from food and drink. These comments provoked a strong backlash from other Danish politicians. A spokesperson for the Danish government clarified that Støjberg's remarks were her personal views and did not represent the official stance of the government. Bus companies also distanced themselves from her comments; Arriva, a major bus operator in Denmark, stated that it had never experienced any accidents involving drivers who were fasting.

3.2. Decree to Separate Young Asylum Couples

A major controversy surrounding Støjberg centered on a decree issued in 2016, which mandated the separation of young asylum-seeking couples residing in refugee centers, even if one or both individuals were minors or had children. This decree was deemed illegal and a violation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. It was also revealed that Støjberg had provided misleading information about the decree to the Parliamentary Ombudsman and had failed to report relevant details to him. A parliamentary committee probe was launched in January 2020 to investigate whether Støjberg had violated the Convention on the Rights of the Child or the European Convention on Human Rights, both of which Denmark is a signatory to.

3.3. Impeachment Trial and Conviction

The controversy regarding the illegal decree to separate young asylum couples culminated in a historic impeachment trial against Støjberg. On 2 February 2021, the Folketing voted 141-30 to initiate an impeachment trial in the Danish Court of Impeachment. She was formally accused of unlawful misconduct and maladministration of office, in violation of the Minister Accountability Act and Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, due to her illegal order to separate refugee couples where one or both parties were minors.

On 13 December 2021, Støjberg was convicted and sentenced to 60 days in prison. As a direct consequence of her conviction, she immediately lost her seat in the Folketing, as a majority in the parliament voted on 21 December that she was no longer worthy of sitting in the Folketing. She was subsequently replaced by Gitte Willumsen.

8.1. Political Achievements and Contributions

Throughout her political career, Støjberg contributed to various policy areas, including gender equality and employment, before her prominent role in immigration affairs. As Minister for Employment, she engaged with issues related to the Danish labor market. Her long tenure as a Member of Parliament and her presence within the leadership of the Venstre party indicate a significant capacity for political engagement and influence within the party.

8.2. Criticisms and Controversies

Støjberg's tenure as Minister for Immigration, Integration and Housing is widely associated with highly controversial policies that drew significant criticism related to human rights and democratic values. The tightening of asylum laws, including the "Jewelry law" and policies limiting social services for asylum seekers, was seen by critics as harsh and inhumane, with some commentators even drawing parallels to historical atrocities. Her public celebration of immigration law tightenings and remarks regarding Muslim fasting during Ramadan were perceived as provocative and divisive, fostering a hostile environment for immigrants and minorities in Denmark.

The most severe criticism and legal consequence stemmed from her illegal order to separate young asylum-seeking couples. This action was a direct violation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and demonstrated a disregard for established legal frameworks and human rights principles. Her subsequent misleading statements to parliamentary oversight bodies further exacerbated concerns about accountability and the rule of law. The impeachment trial and conviction underscored the serious implications of her actions, marking a rare instance of a Danish minister being held accountable for official misconduct. This event highlighted a significant challenge to democratic norms and raised questions about the protection of vulnerable social groups under her policies.

8.3. Overall Political Impact and Legacy

Inger Støjberg's political trajectory has left a lasting influence on Danish society. Her assertive and often confrontational stance on immigration significantly shaped national debates, contributing to a more restrictive public discourse and policy environment concerning asylum and integration. Her policies were seen by many as reflecting a growing anti-immigrant sentiment within Danish politics, and her actions spurred considerable public and political polarization.

The impeachment and conviction are indelible parts of her legacy, signaling a critical moment for accountability in Danish politics. While her supporters view her as a strong advocate for Danish values and strict border control, critics often cite her as a symbol of policies that undermined human rights and democratic principles. The founding of Denmark Democrats after her conviction indicates her continued influence and a desire to rally support around a conservative, anti-immigrant platform, ensuring that her political impact extends beyond her traditional party affiliations and directly influences the future direction of Danish politics.