Karl Skytte

Karl Skytte

Karl Skytte (31 March 1908 – 9 June 1986), was a Danish politician and party leader. He served as member of Folketinget for the Social Liberal Party from 1947–1978 and as the party's political leader from 1960–1968. He was a farmer by profession. As Minister for Agriculture 1957–1964, he had only limited success in resisting the pressure for structural development of the sector resulting in the abandonment of many small farms. Back then small farmers constituted an important part of the Social Liberal electorate. As party leader from 1960, Skytte was eventually sidelined by Hilmar Baunsgaard who had a much stronger TV appeal. When the latter formed his cabinet in 1968, Skytte became Speaker of the Folketing. He retired from Danish politics in 1978.