Christian Wenande
February 7th, 2023

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Jakob Ellemann-Jensen has had to balance duties being a father, head of Venstre, defence minister and deputy PM (photo: Christian Wenande)

Denmark’s defence minister and head of Venstre, Jakob Ellemann-Jensen, has announced that he has taken indefinite sick leave following a health scare that sent him to the hospital late last week.

Ellemann-Jensen said that his body was telling him that he needed a break and it was a signal he intended to heed to avoid things escalating.

“I’ve always been the type who attends to my duties, so I was geared up to return to work immediately. But now, after a few days, I must admit that I’m not ready to do so,” Ellemann-Jensen wrote on social media.

“My health is obviously most important. I can’t be a father, defence minister and head of Venstre at the same time if my health isn’t in order.”

Ellemann-Jensen said that he’s pulling the plug following an exceptionally busy period. 

READ ALSO: CO2 neutrality by 2045, massive tax changes, job centres gone and scaling back a bank holiday among the key aspects of Denmark’s future

Troels taking the reins
In his absence, Troels Lund Poulsen will step in as defence minister – a position the Venstre stalwart will balance with his current duties as economy minister.

A long line of Ellemann-Jensen’s colleagues have voiced their support following his post, including PM Mette Frederiksen and fellow party heads Inger Støjberg, Alex Vanopslagh and Pia Olsen Dyhr.

“I look forward to getting Jakob back, but right now the most important thing for him is to take care of himself and his family. I hope everyone will respect that,” wrote Frederiksen.

Ellemann-Jensen recently helped form the new government following the 2022 General Election (photo: Hasse Ferrold)