Danish Deputy Prime Minister Jakob Ellemann-Jensen announced his retirement from politics on Monday, only months after returning after a six-month vacation due to stress and overwork.
His resignation also means he will step down as leader of Denmark’s leading coalition party, the liberal Venstre.
“The short version: I am quitting Danish politics completely and permanently today,” Ellemann-Jensen, who is also the economy minister, said at a press conference.
Venstre’s poll results have fallen since joining a coalition government led by Social Democrat Mette Frederiksen.
Ellemann-Jensen said that his personality overshadowed the party’s results in government, and had become a hindrance to the party’s ability to “move forward.”
“Therefore, I am taking the consequences now and stepping down as chairman,” he said.
At the beginning of August, Ellemann-Jense — who has been a member of parliament since 2011 — returned from a six-month leave that he had taken “to unplug” on the advice of his doctor, citing stress and overwork.
Party colleague and defence minister Troels Lund Poulsen will take over his responsibilities in government.
Venstre vice chairman Stephanie Lose will take over organisational duties for the party, until the election of a new party leader at the party annual conference in November.