Jakob Engel-Schmidt


Jakob Engel-Schmidt is a Danish politician and Member of the Folketing from the Moderates. Since 15 December 2022 he has been minister for culture in the Frederiksen II Cabinet.

Political career

In the 2009 Danish local elections, he ran unsuccessfully in Rudersdal Municipality.
He was a Venstre parliamentary candidate in the Lyngby constituency in the 2011 Danish general election and won 2,234 personal votes, but not enough to win a seat. The radio host endorsed him, calling him "an excellent liberal candidate".
On 15 August 2013, he instead entered the Folketing as a substitute for Gitte Lillelund Bech who resigned from parliament.
In 2022, he left Venstre and joined the Moderates. On 15 December, he was appointed minister of culture in Mette Frederiksen's second cabinet.
In 2024 he issued a statement in Berlingske newspaper expressing his belief that Russian athletes should be banned from major international sports evens including e-sports, he said "''As long as Russia continues its illegal war of aggression in Ukraine, I do not believe that Russian athletes should be allowed to participate in international sports. This of course also applies to e-sports"''