That is goodbye to a woman who has meant so much for young Danes wishing to become an exchange student.
It was Lene Espersen who as minister for justice made it possible for the United States to get Camilla Broe extradited; an extradition process dragging out for years, which ended with a result clearing the name of Camilla Broe.
It sent a very clear message to parents of exchange students. Actions which are legal in Denmark might not be legal abroad. The actions might come back a decade later ending in years of legal processing and life quality lost.
So the number of exchange students has dropped during the last years. Second realizing that the quality of education systems abroad might not have the standard we expect in Denmark, the state no longer provides economically aid for exchange students.
A lot of issues regarding exchange student cases came to the light as result of the Camilla Broe case. It has meant that the Danish parents are less motivated to send their children abroad. For this the Danish population own Lene Espersen thank. Our culture is less likely to experience disturbances from exchange students returning home trying to adjust.
It is goodbye to a woman who has lived almost her entire life in politics. Now she will have to experience the torment of normal life among ordinary Danish citizen for the first time.
We wish her luck.
Source:
Lene Espersen to retire from politics (Denmarks Radio)