During his last moments in power, Anders Fogh Rasmussen reveals a humorous side, but keeps his historical wits about him

When it came right down to it, Denmark’s hardest politician showed on his last day in office that underneath the mantle of leadership he is flesh and blood.

Anders Fogh Rasmussen, who went by the title ‘prime minister’ since November 2001 until today, found himself watery eyed and shaken as he exchanged good-byes with his staff this afternoon after formally announcing his resignation to Queen Margrethe earlier in the day.

The straight-laced Fogh Rasmussen, who is always composed in public, appeared to have watery eyes as his chief of staff said farewell on behalf of the employees of the Prime Minister’s Office, and when it was his turn to speak, Denmark’s teflon PM found himself in the rare situation of stumbling over his words.

‘Well, the time has come,’ Fogh Rasmussen began, but stopped as he cleared his throat.

Gathering himself he said, ‘I’m afraid I’ve just ruined my image as a hard man. The time has come,' he continued, 'as it comes for all prime ministers, to say good-bye.’

Once he found his footing, Fogh Rasmussen also revealed a jovial side of himself normally shown on camera.

Addressing his replacement, Lars Løkke Rasmussen (no relation), he warned him that the job of prime minister was a ‘damned if you do, damned if you don’t’ position.

‘No matter what you do, you get critiscised for it. The conclusion is that you need to choose what type of criticism you want.’

Løkke Rasmussen, who portrays a more relaxed image than Fogh Rasmussen, and will be the third prime minister in a row with the surname ‘Rasmussen’ showed he was also in a mood for humour.

‘I’m the third Rasmussen in a row to hold this office. There was a difference between one and two. And you will be able to see a difference between two and three.’

Both Fogh and Løkke are avid cyclists, and as a going away gift, the new prime minister give Fogh Rasmussen a gift 'suitable for a Nato position that he had to wear a helmet for’.

Unveiling a streamlined, tear-drop shape bicycling helmet, Løkke Rasmussen uttered, ‘you don’t have to put it on here though’.

Fogh Rasmussen, mindful of a gaffe by his predecessor, Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, who in 1995 riding on a bike wearing a helmet that was two sizes too small, smiled, tucked the helmet under his arm, and politely thanked his former finance minister.