Birte Weiss, a notable former member of the Danish Social Democratic Party and Minister, passed away on Saturday at the age of 84 after battling illness. Her passing was confirmed by her son, Jakob Weiss. Weiss had a remarkable political career where she served in several ministerial roles including interior, research, and health minister, before retiring from politics in 2001 to return to journalism.

Weiss came close to making history as the first female president of the Danish Parliament, Radikale Venstre, having lost a lottery to Venstres Ivar Hansen in 1998. Her legacy includes significant contributions to the field of refugee policy and gender equality in Danish politics. Despite stepping away from politics, she continued to influence and inspire, highlighted by her inclusion in a portrait of 30 women who shaped the Danish governance over the last 100 years, exhibited at Christiansborg in 2024.

Born on May Day in 1940, Weiss was not only deeply involved in politics but also made her mark as a journalist. Her family and many across Denmark will remember her as a pioneering force in advancing the status and rights of both refugees and women in a societal landscape where both issues remain deeply pertinent. Her life's work continues to resonate with many in today's political climate.