We have the opportunity to change Denmark - that opportunity must be seized.

She led the Social Democrats in the 2007 election in which her party suffered modest losses and was forced into a third term in opposition. Early career in Europe
From 1994 to 1997 Thorning-Schmidt led the secretariat of the Danish delegation of Social Democrats in the European Parliament. After her time in Brussels Helle Thorning-Schmidt worked as an international consultant with the Danish Confederation of Trade Unions until being elected MEP in 1999.

Thorning-Schmidt holds degrees in political science from the University of Copenhagen and the College of Europe. She is the first woman to hold either post. She was elected to replace Mogens Lykketoft as Leader of the Social Democrats after the 2005 parliamentary election leading her party through the 2007 parliamentary election which was won by the centre-right alliance and the 2011 parliamentary election after which Helle Thorning-Schmidt was appointed Prime Minister by Queen Margrethe II.