Helle Thorning-Schmidt

Helle Thorning-Schmidt became the first female Prime Minister of Denmark in October 2011 after leading the Social Democrats to victory in the general election. She formed a coalition government with the Socialist People's Party and the Red-Green Alliance.

Thorning-Schmidt's government introduced a series of welfare reforms including changes to unemployment benefits, early retirement, and student grants. The reforms aimed to increase labor market participation and reduce public spending, but faced criticism from unions and left-wing parties.

Thorning-Schmidt's coalition government lost the general election in June 2015 to the center-right Liberal Party led by Lars Lokke Rasmussen. She resigned as Prime Minister and later stepped down as leader of the Social Democrats.