Mattias Tesfaye (born 31 March 1981) is a Danish politician serving as Minister for Education and Children since 2022. He was previously Minister for Justice from February to December 2022 and Minister for Immigration and Integration from 2019 to 2022, and has been member of the Folketing since the 2015 Danish general election as a member of the Social Democrats.
Mattias Tesfaye | |
|---|---|
 Tesfaye in 2012 | |
| Minister for Children and Education | |
| Assumed office 15 December 2022 | |
| Prime Minister | Mette Frederiksen |
| Preceded by | Pernille Rosenkrantz-Theil |
| Minister of Justice | |
| In office 2 May 2022 – 15 December 2022 | |
| Prime Minister | Mette Frederiksen |
| Preceded by | Nick Hækkerup |
| Succeeded by | Peter Hummelgaard |
| Minister for Immigration and Integration | |
| In office 27 June 2019 – 2 May 2022 | |
| Prime Minister | Mette Frederiksen |
| Preceded by | Inger Støjberg |
| Succeeded by | Kaare Dybvad |
| Member of the Folketing | |
| Assumed office 18 June 2015 | |
| Constituency | Greater Copenhagen |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 31 March 1981 Aarhus, Denmark |
| Political party | Social Democrats (2013-present) |
| Other political affiliations | Socialist People's (2008-2013) Red–Green Alliance (2005-2008) Communist/Marxist-Leninist (1995-2005) |
| Spouse | Signe Hagel Andersen |
| Children | 2 |
Background
editHe was born in Aarhus in 1981 to Tesfaye mammo (an Ethiopian refugee[1]) and Jytte Svensson, and is currently married to Signe Hagel Andersen. The couple has two children.[2]
Political career
editBefore he joined the Social Democrats in 2015 Tesfaye was a prominent member and former vice chairman of the Socialist People's Party. He has also previously been a member of both the Red–Green Alliance and the now defunct Communist Party of Denmark/Marxist–Leninists.[3] He was elected member of Folketinget for the Social Democrats in 2015.
Tesfayer was appointed Minister for Immigration and Integration in the Frederiksen Cabinet on 27 June 2019.[2][4] Under his leadership, Denmark’s government approached countries both in and outside the European Union about a potential asylum deal, including Tunisia and Ethiopia. Denmark also signed a diplomatic agreement with Rwanda on asylum and political matters.[5]
Political positions
editOn asylum rights, Tesfaye has a very restrictive position, setting the goal of Denmark having "no asylum seekers any more at all".[6]
References
edit- ^ "Why have Danes turned against immigration?". The Economist. 18 December 2021. Archived from the original on 17 December 2021. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
- ^ a b "Mattias Tesfaye (S)". Ft.dk. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
- ^ "Mattias Tesfaye er nu socialdemokrat". information.dk (in Danish). 27 January 2013. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
- ^ Deleuran Müller, Thea (27 June 2019). "Danmarks nye regering er nu på plads: Se hele Mette Frederiksens ministerhold her". dr.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 2 July 2019.
- ^ Nikolaj Skydsgaard and Terje Solsvik (20 April 2022), Denmark in talks with Rwanda on transfer of asylum-seekers Reuters.
- ^ tagesschau.de. "Dänische Regierung verschärft Zuwanderungspolitik". tagesschau.de (in German). Retrieved 19 March 2021.