Peter Christensen (politician, born 1975)

{{Short description|Danish politician (1975–2025)|bot=PearBOT 5}}

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{{Infobox officeholder

| image= 200px

| office= Minister of Defence

| term_start= 30 September 2015

| term_end= 28 November 2016

| primeminister= Lars Løkke Rasmussen

| predecessor= Carl Holst

| successor= Claus Hjort Frederiksen

| office2= Minister for Nordic Cooperation

| term_start2= 30 September 2015

| term_end2= 28 November 2016

| primeminister2= Lars Løkke Rasmussen

| predecessor2= Carl Holst

| successor2= Karen Ellemann

| office3= Minister of Taxation

| term_start3= 8 March 2011

| term_end3= 3 October 2011

| primeminister3= Lars Løkke Rasmussen

| predecessor3= Troels Lund Poulsen

| successor3= Thor Möger Pedersen

| office4 = Member of the Folketing

| term_start4= 20 November 2001

| term_end4= 18 June 2015

| constituency4= Sønderjyllands Amtskreds

| birth_date= {{birth date|1975|04|25|df=y}}

| birth_place= Sønderborg, Denmark

| death_date= {{death date and age|2025|02|06|1975|04|25|df=y}}

| death_place=

| party= Venstre

}}

Peter Christensen (25 April 1975 – 6 February 2025) was a Danish politician. He represented Venstre. He was an electrician by profession and was a Member of Parliament from 2001 to 2015. He served as Chairman of Venstres Ungdom from 1999 to 2001.

Christensen replaced Troels Lund Poulsen as Minister for Taxation of Denmark from 8 March to 3 October 2011. Thor Möger Pedersen succeeded him as Minister for Taxation. On 30 September 2015, he replaced Carl Holst as Minister of Defence, who stepped down, following a list of personal scandals.{{cite web|title=Officielt: Peter Christensen bliver ny forsvarsminister|url=http://www.politiko.dk/nyheder/officielt-peter-christensen-bliver-ny-forsvarsminister|website=Politiko|access-date=30 September 2015|language=da}}

Post-politics

After losing his parliamentary seat in the 2015 election, Christensen retired from politics. From 2017 to 2023, he worked in the private sector, including as director of the business organization Aktive Ejere (Active Owners).

== Personal life and death ==

Christensen married journalist Josefine Kofoed in 2010. The couple had three children.

In his youth, he survived cancer, but the disease recurred in the early 2020s. He died on 6 February 2025 at the age of 49 after a four-year battle.{{Cite news | url=https://politiken.dk/navne/art10280617/Han-k%C3%A6mpede-en-livslang-kamp-mod-kr%C3%A6ft | title=Han kæmpede en livslang kamp mod kræften | lang=da | first=Elisabet | last=Svane | date=6 January 2025 | newspaper=Politiken | access-date=8 January 2025}}

== Legacy ==

Played a key role in tax reforms during his tenure as Minister for Taxation.
Strengthened Denmark’s military ties with NATO.
Former Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen praised his pragmatism and analytical skills.

== Controversies ==

**2015 election loss**: Failed to retain his parliamentary seat despite his influence in Venstre, sparking debates about his public image.
**Internal party criticism**: His 2003 "10 Theses" proposal for tax cuts faced backlash from Venstre leadership.