H. C. Hansen

For the architect, see Christian Hansen (architect).
Hans Christian Hansen
Prime Minister of Denmark
In office
1 February 1955 – 19 February 1960
(5 years, 18 days)
Monarch Frederick IX
Preceded by Hans Hedtoft
Succeeded by Viggo Kampmann
Personal details
Born (1906-11-08)8 November 1906
Aarhus, Denmark
Died 19 February 1960(1960-02-19) (aged 53)
Copenhagen
Political party Social Democrats

Hans Christian Svane Hansen (8 November 1906 – 19 February 1960), 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. Hansen also served as Finance Minister in the Cabinet of Hans Hedtoft I and Foreign Minister in the Cabinet of Hans Hedtoft II. Hansen was trained as a typographer. He was a secretary and later chairman in the Social Democratic Youth and became a member of parliament in 1936.

As Foreign Minister, H. C. Hansen was seen as the natural successor as Prime Minister and leader of the Social Democrats, when his friend Hans Hedtoft died of a heart attack on 29 January 1955. In addition to becoming Prime Minister, H. C. Hansen also retained the post as Foreign Minister until 1958. Amongst the laws passed by this government included the universal people's pension and the enactment of agricultural price supports. The law on assistance to single mothers of April 1955 introduced special assistance for widows with children and certain other categories of single women, while under the Accident Insurance Act of 1959, an independent board of appeal was set up, waiting times were reduced, compensation for survivors was converted from lump sums into running benefits, and the scheme extended to cover occupational diseases. Under a law on relations between trade union a and employers’ associations, passed in April 1956, as an offshoot of collective agreement on the labour market, a new scheme provided sickness cash benefits significantly higher than in the existing health insurance scheme. The new scheme only covered members of trade unions and those employed by members of the Danish Employers’ Association. In addition, under the Apprenticeship Act of September 1956, theoretical training was introduced at technical schools as part of apprenticeship training. In 1956, universal pension coverage in Denmark was introduced, while the Survivors’ Pension Act of March 1959 introduced a general survivors’ pension scheme, including specific provisions for single women having reached age 60. In 1959, a law was enacted that led to the establishment of the Mental Retardation Service and a decentralised regional system of services for those with intellectual disabilities. That same year, an extension of covered occupational diseases in work injury compensation was carried out. In 1958, an education reform was enacted that reduced educational barriers.

In March 1957 it had been 4 years since the last election to the Folketing, and as mandated by the Danish constitution new elections were held. After the election H. C. Hansen was able to partner with the Danish Social Liberal Party and Retsforbundet to form the Cabinet of H.C. Hansen II, also known as the Triangle Cabinet (Trekantsregeringen).

On 25 March 1957 France, West Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg signed the Treaty of Rome to create the European Economic Community. To not be left behind the Danish government first wanted to join a Nordic free trade organization, but that failed and Denmark joined the EFTA on 3 May 1960 instead. Unlike his successors as Social Democratic leaders and prime minister, Hansen did not support Denmark joining the European Economic Community that eventually took place in 1972.

H. C. Hansen died from cancer on 19 February 1960, and was succeeded by Viggo Kampmann in the Social Democratic party and as Prime Minister. He was the second Danish prime minister in a row to die while in office.

See also

Footnotes

    References

    Political offices
    Preceded by
    Kristian Hansen Koefoed / none    		 Finance Minister of Denmark
    5 May 1945 – 7 November 1945     		Succeeded by
    Thorkil Kristensen
    Preceded by
    Thorkil Kristensen    		 Finance Minister of Denmark
    13 November 1947 – 16 September 1950     		Succeeded by
    Viggo Kampmann
    Preceded by
    Jens Otto Krag    		 Trade Minister of Denmark
    16 September 1950 – 30 October 1950     		Succeeded by
    Ove Weikop
    Preceded by
    Ole Bjørn Kraft    		 Foreign Minister of Denmark
    30 September 1953 – 8 October 1958     		Succeeded by
    Jens Otto Krag
    Preceded by
    Hans Hedtoft    		 Prime Minister of Denmark
    1 February 1955 – 19 February 1960     		Succeeded by
    Viggo Kampmann
    Party political offices
    Preceded by
    Hans Hedtoft    		 Leader of the Danish Social Democrats
    1955–1960     		Succeeded by
    Viggo Kampmann
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