Bodil Koch | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Koch in 1954 | |
| Minister for Cultural Affairs | |
| In office 28 November 1966 – 2 February 1968 | |
| Prime Minister | Jens Otto Krag |
| Preceded by | Hans Sølvhøj |
| Succeeded by | Kristen Helveg Petersen |
| Minister of Ecclesiastical Affairs | |
| In office 30 September 1953 – 28 November 1966 | |
| Prime Minister | Hans Hedtoft H. C. Hansen Viggo Kampmann Jens Otto Krag |
| Preceded by | Carl Martin Hermansen |
| Succeeded by | Orla Møller |
| In office 16 September 1950 – 30 October 1950 | |
| Prime Minister | Hans Hedtoft |
| Preceded by | Frede Nielsen |
| Succeeded by | Jens Sønderup |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 25 October 1903 Copenhagen, Denmark |
| Died | 7 January 1972 (aged 68) Copenhagen, Denmark |
| Political party | Social Democrats |
| Spouse | Hal Koch |
| Children | 5, including Dorte Bennedsen and Ejler Koch |
| Education | University of Copenhagen |
| Occupation | Theologist Politician |
Bodil Koch (25 October 1903 – 7 January 1972) was the wife of a prominent professor, a Social Democrat, and a minister. She was married to professor Hal Koch, an advocate of democracy as a continuing deliberation instead of the majority's rights over the minorities. She represented the Social Democrats in the Danish Parliament, Folketinget from 1947 – 1968.
In 1947, she was elected to the Folketing and three years later she became the first female Minister of Ecclesiastical Affairs in the world and the third female minister in Denmark. She only held the office for six weeks, as Prime Minister Hans Hedtoft resigned 30 October 1950 over a dispute on the continued rationing of butter.
When the Social Democrats returned to the power in 1953, she again was appointed Minister of Ecclesiastical Affairs. She held office until 1966, when she was appointed new Minister of Culture. She held office until Hilmar Baunsgaard in 1968 replaced Jens Otto Krag as prime minister.