Helle Thorning-Schmidt

Denmark’s has elected its first female prime minister, Helle Thorning-Schmidt, the social democrat leader and daughter-in-law of Neil and Glenys Kinnock.

Her broad centre-left coalition ends the far-right’s 10 year hold on Denmark’s government, in a narrow victory to the Social Democrats. The win defies European political trends, as leftist parties have struggled to gain ascendency during the economic downturn.

Dubbed the "Gucci Helle" because of her designer predilections, the 44-year-old mother-of-two is married to former Labour Leader Neil Kinnock’s son, Stephen Kinnock, a director at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland.

“The Social Democrats are ready to take their share of the responsibility,” the tall blonde told her supporters. “We will do our utmost, our utmost to live up to your confidence.”

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