Denmark gets first woman premier

After returning the Social Democrats to power following 10 years in opposition, no one questions Helle Thorning-Schmidt’s credentials as leader of a party sprung from Denmark’s labour movement in 1871.

But the 44-year-old mother of two still faces doubts about her ability to act as a unifying figure for the diverse “red bloc” that won Thursday’s election, and for Denmark as a whole.
Tall, blonde and elegantly dressed, Thorning-Schmidt projected confidence and poise during meetings with voters, and handled the media with wit and a disarming smile.

The questions is whether she can convince parties that don’t agree on the taxes and welfare cuts needed to shore up public finances amid Europe’s debt crisis.

Thorning-Schmidt had been a lawmaker in the European Parliament in Brussels for five years when she was elected Social Democratic leader in 2005.