Lars Løkke Rasmussen (Danish: [lɑːs ˈløɡ̊ə ˈʁɑsmusn̩]; 15 May 1964) is a Danish politician who has served as Prime Minister of Denmark since June 2015. He was previously Prime Minister from April 2009 to October 2011. He is the leader of the centre-right liberal party, Venstre.
Rasmussen has been a member of the Danish Parliament (Folketing) since 21 September 1994. He also served as County Mayor of Frederiksborg County from 1998 to 2001. Subsequently he was the Interior and Health Minister from 27 November 2001 to 23 November 2007 as part of Anders Fogh Rasmussen's first and second Cabinets, and then Minister of Finance from 23 November 2007 to April 2009 as part of Anders Fogh Rasmussen's third Cabinet. On 5 April 2009, he succeeded Anders Fogh Rasmussen as Prime Minister following the latter's appointment as Secretary General of NATO.
In the September 2011 general election, the government lost its parliamentary majority and Rasmussen tendered the government's resignation to Queen Margrethe. He was succeeded by Helle Thorning-Schmidt of the Social Democrats on 3 October 2011. In the June 2015 general election, the right-wing parties regained a majority in the Folketing. Rasmussen again became Prime Minister and formed his second cabinet in the same month, consisting entirely of Venstre ministers.