13.03.1904 – 22.11.1991
Politician, High Court attorney, Mayor
Edel Saunte was politically engaged as a prominent women’s rights advocate and a leading Social Democrat. She distinguished herself as a capable, committed, and at times uncompromising person.
She was a lawyer and, at the age of 30, became the third female High Court attorney in Denmark. She later founded her own law firm and specialised in divorce cases.
She had the courage of her convictions and became both national chair of the Danish Women’s Society, a member of the Copenhagen City Council, and later a member of the Danish Parliament, where she particularly made her mark on social policy issues.
Edel Saunte continued as a role model and, in 1962, became the first female mayor in Copenhagen, responsible for hospitals, healthcare services, and municipal residential properties. She held the mayoral office until 1974. Over the years, Edel Saunte served on many committees, councils, and commissions; among other roles, she was chair of the major government Women’s Commission from 1965 to 1974.
