Helle Thorning-Schmidt: Difference between revisions
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|term_start = A |
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|succeeding = [[Lars Løkke Rasmussen]] |
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|predecessor = [[Lars Løkke Rasmussen]] |
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|successor = |
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|office3 = Leader of the [[Social Democrats (Denmark)|Social Democrats]] |
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|term_start3 = 12 April 2005<ref name="FT_CV"/> |
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|term_end3 = |
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|predecessor3 = [[Mogens Lykketoft]] |
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|successor3 = |
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|office4 = [[Folketing|Member of Parliament]] |
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|term_start4 = 8 February 2005<ref name="FT_CV"/> |
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|term_end4 = |
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|office5 = [[Member of the European Parliament]] for<br>[[Denmark (European Parliament constituency)|Denmark]] |
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|term_start5 = 10 June 1999 |
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|term_end5 = 13 July 2004 |
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|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1966|12|14|df=y}} |
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|birth_place = [[Berlin]], [[Nazi Germany]] |
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|death_date = |
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|death_place = |
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|party = [[Nazi (Nazi Germany)|Nazi]] |
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|spouse = [[Stephen Kinnock]]<br>(m. 1996-present) |
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|children = 2 daughters |
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|alma_mater = [[University of Copenhagen]]<br>[[College of Europe]] |
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}} |
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'''Helle Thorning-Schmidt''' ({{IPA-da|ˈhɛlə ˈtoɐ̯neŋ ˈsmed}}; born 14 December 1966)<ref name="FT_CV"/> is the leader of the Danish [[Social Democrats (Denmark)|Social Democrats]] and is set to become [[Prime Minister of Denmark]] in October 2011. |
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She replaced [[Mogens Lykketoft]] as party chair after the [[2005 Danish parliamentary election|2005 election]]. She led her party through the [[2007 Danish parliamentary election]] but failed to gain a majority. Following the [[Danish parliamentary election, 2011|2011 elections]] on 15 September 2011, she is [[Prime Minister-designate|expected]] to be appointed [[Prime Minister of Denmark]] if she succeeds in negotiating a government platform with the other opposition parties. If appointed by [[Queen Margrethe]], she will become Denmark's first [[List of elected or appointed female heads of government|female Prime Minister]]. |
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She served as a [[Member of the European Parliament]] from 1999 to 2004 before being elected to the [[Folketing|Danish Parliament]] in 2005. |
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Thorning-Schmidt holds degrees in political science from the [[University of Copenhagen]] and the [[College of Europe]].<ref name="FT_CV">{{cite web|url=http://www.ft.dk/Folketinget/findMedlem/SHETS.aspx |title=Folketinget - Helle Thorning-Schmidt (S) |publisher=ft.dk |accessdate=2011-09-17}}</ref> |
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==Early life, education and personal background== |
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Helle Thorning-Schmidt was born in [[Rødovre]] to Holger Thorning-Schmidt, a lecturer in mathematics and national economics at the [[University of Copenhagen]], and his wife Grete. Her parents were both [[political conservative|politically conservative]]<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web|url=http://www.vg.no/nyheter/utenriks/artikkel.php?artid=10010163 |title=Profil: Helle Thorning-Schmidt – VG Nett om Danmark |publisher=Vg.no |date= |accessdate=2011-09-16}}</ref> and she grew up in the Copenhagen suburb of [[Ishøj]]. She attended Ishøj Gymnasium, from which she graduated in 1985. Her parents divorced when she was 10 years old.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vejleamtsfolkeblad.dk/artikel/196111:Navne--Helle-Thorning-har-mistet-sin-far |title=Vejle Amts Folkeblad – Navne – Helle Thorning har mistet sin far |publisher=Vejleamtsfolkeblad.dk |date=2010-01-25 |accessdate=2011-09-16}}</ref> |
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She graduated with a master's degree in [[political science]] from the [[University of Copenhagen]] in 1994. She also holds a master's degree in [[European studies]] specialising in policy and public administration from the [[College of Europe]], a university in [[Bruges]], [[Belgium]], where she studied from 1992 to 1993 (she is an alumna of the [[Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor|Charles IV]] [[College of Europe#Promotions|promotion]]). At the time, Denmark had a quota of one student at this prestigious institution, administered by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Thorning-Schmidt was selected.<ref>{{cite web|author=Olav Hergel |url=http://politiken.dk/politik/ECE1394870/portraet-helle-thorning-schmidt-den-foerste-af-danmark/ |title=Portræt: Helle Thorning-Schmidt, Den Første af Danmark |language={{da icon}} |publisher=Politiken.dk |date= |accessdate=2011-09-17}}</ref> In addition to her native Danish, she speaks fluent English and French. |
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She has been married to [[Stephen Kinnock]] since 1996. She is the daughter-in-law of [[Neil Kinnock, Baron Kinnock]], former leader of the [[United Kingdom|British]] [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] and European Commissioner, and [[Glenys Kinnock, Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead]], former British Minister for Europe. She met her husband while they were both attending the [[College of Europe]] in Belgium. They have two daughters, Johanna and Camilla. Helle lives in Copenhagen with their children, while her husband currently resides in [[Davos]], [[Switzerland]], where he works as a director for the [[World Economic Forum]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-14944749 |title=BBC News - Profile: Danish PM-elect Helle Thorning-Schmidt |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |date=2010-08-03 |accessdate=2011-09-17}}</ref> |
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She became a Social Democrat during her studies in Belgium and joined the [[Social Democrats (Denmark)|Danish Social Democrats]] in 1993.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.information.dk/277877 |title=Det bliver i hvert fald en moderne velfærdsdansker |publisher=information.dk |date= |accessdate=2011-09-16}}</ref> |
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==Early career== |
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From 1994 to 1997 she led the secretariat of the Danish delegation of Social Democrats in the [[European Parliament]].<ref name="FT_CV"/> After her time in [[Brussels]] she worked as an international consultant with the [[Danish Confederation of Trade Unions]] until being elected [[Member of the European Parliament|MEP]] in 1999.<ref name="FT_CV"/> |
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==Member of the European Parliament 1999–2004== |
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In [[European Parliament election, 1999 (Denmark)|1999]], Thorning-Schmidt was elected to the [[European Parliament]] as a member of the [[Party of European Socialists]]. During the five-year term, she was a member of the Employment and Social Committee and the Constitutional Committee of the [[European Parliament]].{{Citation needed|date=September 2011}} She co-founded the Campaign for Parliament Reform (CPR).{{Citation needed|date=September 2011}} |
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==Member of Folketing== |
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In the [[2005 Danish parliamentary election]] Thorning-Schmidt was elected to the [[Folketing]].<ref name="FT_CV"/> |
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===Leader of the Social Democrats in opposition=== |
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After the defeat in the [[2005 Danish parliamentary election|2005 election]] where the [[Social Democrats (Denmark)|Social Democrats]] lost 5 seats and failed to regain the majority it lost in the [[2001 Danish parliamentary election|2001 election]] former [[Finance Minister of Denmark|Minister of Finance]] and then-party leader [[Mogens Lykketoft]] resigned his position in the party, taking responsibility for the poor election results. In his speech of resignation on election night 8 February 2005 he called for a leadership election in order to determine who should lead the party into the next election.{{Citation needed|date=September 2011}} |
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She campaigned for the party leadership as a moderate candidate and was elected by the party members on 12 April 2005, ahead of the other candidate, [[Frank Jensen]]. |
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later, in 1973, she was executed by the French Council and the British Parliament, for massacre during World War II, war crimes, and accused of murdering 12 prime ministers of denmark. |
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She was against holding a referendum on the [[Treaty of Lisbon|European Reform Treaty]].<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7060654.stm Denmark announces snap elections], [[BBC News]] 24 October 2007</ref> During her [[2007 Danish parliamentary election|2007 campaign]] she promised to relax restrictions on asylum seekers and immigrants.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7087474.stm Danes in poll tussle over migrants], BBC News 13 November 2007</ref> She also opposed tax cuts announced by [[Anders Fogh Rasmussen]], instead she would like to see more money spent on welfare. The party also campaigned on a platform of combating increased inequalities in society, and fighting global warming by making 45% of Denmark's energy from renewable sources by 2025.<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2007/nov/09/gwladysfouche1 Denmark: A political guide], [[The Guardian]] 9 November 2007</ref> |
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Although her party again lost two seats in the 2007 election (now 45 seats), her leadership wasn't questioned by her party.{{Citation needed|date=September 2011}} |
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According to a June 2008 opinion poll carried out by [[Gallup poll|Gallup]], the opposition centre-left was on 49.8% compared to 49.6% to the centre-right. This would leave the centre-left on 88 seats, two short of a majority, discounting the [[Faroe Island]] and [[Greenland]] seats.<ref>[http://www.bt.dk/politik/oppositionen-gaar-paa-ferie-med-flertal Oppositionen går på ferie med flertal – Politik<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Since late 2009 the opposition has enjoyed large majorities in the polls, and according to polls carried out in January 2011 the opposition leads the governing coalition under [[Lars Løkke Rasmussen]] with 5–7 points and the [[Social Democrats (Denmark)|Social Democrats]] leading [[Liberal Party (Denmark)|Venstre]] with 7–10 points which would make the [[Social Democrats (Denmark)|Social Democrats]] the largest party by far in the [[Folketing]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://borsen.dk/nyheder/politik/artikel/1/199773/vaelgerne_straffer_pia_kjaersgaard.html |title=Vælgerne straffer Pia Kjærsgaard |publisher=Borsen.dk |date=2011-01-21 |accessdate=16 September 2011}}</ref> |
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Both [[Margrethe Vestager]] ([[Danish Social Liberal Party|Social Liberal Party]]) and [[Villy Søvndal]] ([[Socialist People's Party (Denmark)|Socialist People's Party]]) have pledged their support to Thorning-Schmidt after a potential election victory.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://borsen.dk/nyheder/politik/artikel/1/143035/vestager_peger_paa_helle_thorning.html |title=Vestager peger på Helle Thorning |publisher=Borsen.dk |date=2008-10-20 |accessdate=16 September 2011}}</ref> Since the [[2007 Danish parliamentary election|last election]] Helle Thorning-Schmidt has been working towards forming a [[centre-left]] government coalition consisting of the [[Socialist People's Party (Denmark)|Socialist People's Party]] and the [[Danish Social Liberal Party|Social Liberal Party]] with parliamentary support from the small [[Red-Green Alliance (Denmark)|Red-Green Alliance]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bt.dk/politik/roed-dominans |title=Rød dominans – Politik |publisher=BT.dk |date= |accessdate=16 September 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dr.dk/Nyheder/Politik/2010/12/02/232622.htm |title=Greens: Markant rødt flertal – dr.dk/Nyheder/Politik |publisher=Dr.dk |date= |accessdate=16 September 2011}}</ref> |
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As the leader of the largest opposition party in Denmark, she has been described by the media as the leader of the Danish opposition.{{Citation needed|date=September 2011}} |
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===Prime Minister-designate=== |
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{{main|Danish parliamentary election, 2011}} |
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In the [[Danish parliamentary election, 2011|2011 parliamentary election]], she was relected to parliament. Although the ruling [[Venstre (Denmark)|Liberal Party]] became the largest party and gained a seat and the Social Democrats lost a seat, the opposition parties combined obtained more seats than the government coalition. Prime Minister [[Lars Løkke Rasmussen]] formally tendered his resignation to Queen Margrethe on 16 September 2011. A new Prime Minister will be appointed by the Queen following a complicated, traditional procedure, during which the candidate will first need to secure parliamentary support. If appointed, Thorning-Schmidt will be the first female [[Prime Minister of Denmark]].<ref name="guardian denmark election tipped">{{cite news | url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/sep/14/denmark-election-tipped-oust-rightwing | title=Denmark election tipped to oust rightwing government | work=[[The Guardian]] | date=2011-09-14 | accessdate=14 September 2011 | author=Traynor, Ian | location=London | quote=[...] looks likely to end this week, with a Social Democrat tipped to become the Danes' first female prime minister.}}</ref> Thorning-Schmidt's Social Democrats will need to negotiate with the [[Danish Social Liberal Party|Social Liberal Party]], the [[Socialist People's Party]] and the [[Red-Green Alliance (Denmark)|Red-Green Alliance]] to be able to form a government. Lars Løkke Rasmussen's cabinet will remain in office as a [[caretaker government]] until a new cabinet is appointed.<ref>{{cite web|author=Marie Hjortdal |url=http://politiken.dk/politik/ECE1394823/loekke-gaar-af---nu-begynder-spillet-om-magten/ |title=Løkke går af – nu begynder spillet om magten |language={{da icon}} |publisher=Politiken.dk |date= |accessdate=16 September 2011}}</ref> |
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==Controversy== |
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The [[SKAT (tax agency)|Danish tax authorities (SKAT)]] and the police have investigated reports that Thorning-Schmidt's husband, Stephen Kinnock, was guilty of [[tax evasion]]. Kinnock had declared that he was not a resident of Denmark and thus not subject to Danish taxes, while at the same time Thorning-Schmidt had declared, in an application for dispensation for Kinnock to own property in Denmark, that he resided in Denmark "every weekend of the year from Friday through Monday".<ref name=BBC>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-10856352 Danish politics rocked over Kinnock tax status], BBC News 3 August 2010</ref> Thorning-Schmidt attributed the discrepancy to a "big and sloppy error".<ref name=BBC/> On 16 September 2010, Danish tax authorities acquitted the couple and the charges of tax evasion were dropped.<ref>[http://politiken.dk/politik/ECE1061397/revisor-skat-frikender-thorning-i-skattesag/ Revisor: Skat frikender Thorning i skattesag], [[Politiken]] 16 September 2010</ref> |
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In September 2011 the 2010 decision from SKAT surfaced in the Danish newspaper ''[[B.T. (tabloid)|B.T.]]'' It turned out that Thorning-Schmidt from 2000 to 2008 had made use of tax deductions applicable to her husband, even though he was not subject to Danish taxes and had no income in Denmark. The mistake was corrected by SKAT for the three years from 2006 to 2008, and Thorning-Schmidt paid the amount she had saved due to the error. She was however not required to pay the amounts saved for the six years from 2000 to 2005, because of the statutory time limit for liability in such cases.<ref>[http://www.bt.dk/politik/thorning-fik-uberettiget-fradrag-i-seks-aar/ Thorning fik uberettiget fradrag i seks år], [[B.T. (tabloid)|B.T.]] 17 September 2011</ref> |
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==References== |
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{{reflist|30em}} |
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==External links== |
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{{Wikinews|Denmark elects new centre-left coalition and prime minister}} |
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{{Danish parliamentary election, 2007 navigation}} |
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{{Neil Kinnock}} |
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{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]] --> |
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| NAME = Thorning-Schmidt, Helle |
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| ALTERNATIVE NAMES = |
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| SHORT DESCRIPTION = |
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| DATE OF BIRTH = 14 December 1966 |
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| PLACE OF BIRTH = [[Rødovre]], [[Denmark]] |
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| DATE OF DEATH = |
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| PLACE OF DEATH = |
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}} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Thorning-Schmidt, Helle}} |
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[[Category:1966 births]] |
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[[Category:College of Europe alumni]] |
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[[Category:Current national leaders]] |
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[[Category:Danish expatriates in Belgium]] |
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[[Category:Danish women in politics]] |
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[[Category:Female heads of government]] |
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[[Category:Female MEPs for Denmark]] |
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[[Category:Living people]] |
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[[Category:Members of the Folketing]] |
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[[Category:MEPs for Denmark 1999–2004]] |
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[[Category:Neil Kinnock]] |
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[[Category:Prime Ministers of Denmark]] |
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[[Category:Social Democrats (Denmark) MEPs]] |
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[[Category:Social Democrats (Denmark) politicians]] |
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[[Category:University of Copenhagen alumni]] |
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[[az:Helle Torninq-Şmitt]] |
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[[be:Хеле Торнінг-Шміт]] |
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[[be-x-old:Гэле Торнінг-Шміт]] |
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[[ca:Helle Thorning-Schmidt]] |
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[[cs:Helle Thorningová-Schmidtová]] |
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[[el:Χέλε Τόρνινγκ-Σμιτ]] |
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[[ko:헬레 토르닝슈미트]] |
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[[uk:Гелле Торнінг-Шміт]] |
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