Viggo Kampmann
Encyclopedia
Viggo Olfert Fischer Kampmann (ˈʋiɡo ˈʌlfɐd ˈfiɕɐ ˈkɑmpmaˀn) (21 July 1910 – 3 June 1976) was the leader of the Danish
Social Democrats
and Prime Minister of Denmark
from 19 February 1960 until 3 September 1962. His cabinet before the 1960 election was called the Cabinet of Viggo Kampmann I and the cabinet he formed after that election was called the Cabinet of Viggo Kampmann II. Before becoming Prime Minister he was Finance Minister
from 30 September 1953 to 21 February 1960 in the Cabinet of Hans Hedtoft II and the Cabinet of H. C. Hansen I and II.
Kampmann was born in Frederiksberg
Denmark. He came from an academic
background and was the first academic to rise to a high rank in the Danish Social Democratic Party. Before becoming Minister of Finance he worked in the newly formed economical secretariat as the Financial Minister's closest adviser. He was first elected to the Folketing
in 1953.
When Prime Minister and Social Democrat H. C. Hansen
died in February 1960 Kampmann succeeded him, creating the Cabinet of Viggo Kampmann I. H. C. Hansen had cooperated with the Danish Social Liberal Party and Retsforbundet
, but Viggo Kampmann had problems working with Retsforbundet. After the 1960 Danish parliamentary election Retsforbundet failed to get into Folketinget and the Danish Social Liberal Party went from 14 to 11 mandates. But the Social Democrats gained 6 mandates to 76, and Viggo Kampmann was able to form a minority government with the Danish Social Liberal Party, the Cabinet of Viggo Kampmann II.
In 1962 the oms, the precursor to the moms
, was introduced.
Kampmann was one of the most intelligent and knowledgeable Danish Prime Ministers, though his conduct in office was erratic. Through most of his adult life he suffered from bipolar disorder
, and in his darker moments he tended towards alcoholism and frequently 'disappeared' from view for days at a time, leaving the government without its head.
Viggo Kampmann resigned on 3 September 1962 after a series of heart attacks, and was succeeded by Jens Otto Krag
as leader of the Social Democrats and as Prime Minister. In retirement he worked as a political commentator and head of the Press Complaints Commission. Viggo Kampmann died in Store Torøje on 3 June 1976.
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
Social Democrats
Social Democrats (Denmark)
The Social Democrats , is a Danish political party committed to the political ideology of social democracy. It is the major coalition partner in Denmark's government since the 2011 parliamentary election, and party leader Helle Thorning-Schmidt is the current Prime Minister of Denmark...
and Prime Minister of Denmark
Prime Minister of Denmark
The Prime Minister of Denmark is the head of government in Danish politics. The Prime Minister is traditionally the leader of a political coalition in the Folketing and presides over the cabinet....
from 19 February 1960 until 3 September 1962. His cabinet before the 1960 election was called the Cabinet of Viggo Kampmann I and the cabinet he formed after that election was called the Cabinet of Viggo Kampmann II. Before becoming Prime Minister he was Finance Minister
Finance Minister of Denmark
The Finance Minister of Denmark is the head of the Ministry of Finance of Denmark, and a member of the Cabinet. As head of the ministry, the minister has responsibility for the ministry's tasks of administrering the state finances via the fiscal policy, and making economic predictions and...
from 30 September 1953 to 21 February 1960 in the Cabinet of Hans Hedtoft II and the Cabinet of H. C. Hansen I and II.
Kampmann was born in Frederiksberg
Frederiksberg
Frederiksberg Kommune is a municipality on the island of Zealand in Denmark. It surrounded by the city of Copenhagen. The municipality, co-extensive with its seat, covers an area of and has a total population of 98,782 making it the smallest municipality in Denmark area-wise, the fifth most...
Denmark. He came from an academic
Academia
Academia is the community of students and scholars engaged in higher education and research.-Etymology:The word comes from the akademeia in ancient Greece. Outside the city walls of Athens, the gymnasium was made famous by Plato as a center of learning...
background and was the first academic to rise to a high rank in the Danish Social Democratic Party. Before becoming Minister of Finance he worked in the newly formed economical secretariat as the Financial Minister's closest adviser. He was first elected to the Folketing
Folketing
The Folketing , is the national parliament of Denmark. The name literally means "People's thing"—that is, the people's governing assembly. It is located in Christiansborg Palace, on the islet of Slotsholmen in central Copenhagen....
in 1953.
When Prime Minister and Social Democrat H. C. Hansen
H. C. Hansen
Hans Christian Svane Hansen , often known as H. C. Hansen or simply H. C., was a social democrat and Prime Minister of Denmark from 29 January 1955 to 19 February 1960 as the head of the Cabinet of H. C. Hansen I and II. Before becoming Prime Minister, H. C...
died in February 1960 Kampmann succeeded him, creating the Cabinet of Viggo Kampmann I. H. C. Hansen had cooperated with the Danish Social Liberal Party and Retsforbundet
Justice Party of Denmark
Danmarks Retsforbund was founded in 1919. The party's platform is based upon the principles of U.S. economist Henry George who advocated a single tax on all land...
, but Viggo Kampmann had problems working with Retsforbundet. After the 1960 Danish parliamentary election Retsforbundet failed to get into Folketinget and the Danish Social Liberal Party went from 14 to 11 mandates. But the Social Democrats gained 6 mandates to 76, and Viggo Kampmann was able to form a minority government with the Danish Social Liberal Party, the Cabinet of Viggo Kampmann II.
In 1962 the oms, the precursor to the moms
Value added tax
A value added tax or value-added tax is a form of consumption tax. From the perspective of the buyer, it is a tax on the purchase price. From that of the seller, it is a tax only on the "value added" to a product, material or service, from an accounting point of view, by this stage of its...
, was introduced.
Kampmann was one of the most intelligent and knowledgeable Danish Prime Ministers, though his conduct in office was erratic. Through most of his adult life he suffered from bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder or bipolar affective disorder, historically known as manic–depressive disorder, is a psychiatric diagnosis that describes a category of mood disorders defined by the presence of one or more episodes of abnormally elevated energy levels, cognition, and mood with or without one or...
, and in his darker moments he tended towards alcoholism and frequently 'disappeared' from view for days at a time, leaving the government without its head.
Viggo Kampmann resigned on 3 September 1962 after a series of heart attacks, and was succeeded by Jens Otto Krag
Jens Otto Krag
Jens Otto Krag was a Danish politician. He was Prime Minister from 1962 to 1968 and again from 1971 to 1972....
as leader of the Social Democrats and as Prime Minister. In retirement he worked as a political commentator and head of the Press Complaints Commission. Viggo Kampmann died in Store Torøje on 3 June 1976.