(writes through, adds quotes, analyst)

By Kim McLaughlin

COPENHAGEN, Nov 23 (Reuters) - Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen on Friday appointed Liberal Party lieutenant Lars Lokke Rasmussen his new finance minister as part of a cabinet reshuffle following last week's election victory.

The 43-year-old Lokke Rasmussen -- who is not related to the prime minister -- is second-in-command in Fogh Rasmussen's party and is seen as his heir apparent.

The prime minister led his party and its Conservative coalition partners to an unprecedented third consecutive term in parliamentary elections last Tuesday, benefiting from a booming economy and a three-decade low unemployment level of 3.1 percent.

A reshuffle was expected in the wake of the slim victory over a Social Democrat-led opposition.

Lokke Rasmussen, who holds a law degree from Copenhagen University, forecast no big policy changes, although he joked that he would have to show more fiscal restraint in his new role than he had as interior and health minister.

"We have exactly the same amount of money today as we did yesterday," he told reporters outside the Royal Palace in the Danish capital.

Lokke Rasmussen, previously minister of the interior and health, succeeds Thor Pedersen, finance minister since 2001, who will resign. His name has been put forward for Speaker of parliament.

Analysts said the choice of Lokke Rasmussen was no surprise and would mean few changes given the strength of Danish public finances.

"It's a confirmation of his position in the Liberal party as the prime minister's natural heir," said Handelsbanken Chief Economist Jes Asmussen.

NEW MINISTRIES

Fogh Rasmussen told reporters three new ministries would be established concurrent with the reshuffle: welfare, health split off from the interior ministry, and climate and energy.

He pledged to push forward with his tax-cutting and employment agenda.

Several existing ministers traded portfolios in the reshuffle and Fogh Rasmussen also added two new faces to his cabinet, both Liberal Party members of parliament.

He named Birthe Hornbech immigration and integration minister, replacing Rikke Hvilshoj, who stepped down for personal reasons last week.

In his campaign, Fogh Rasmussen promised some softening of Denmark's tough asylum laws, proposing such steps as allowing some families with children to live outside asylum centres while waiting for their claims to be assessed.

His new environment minister is Troels Poulsen, who replaces Connie Hedegaard who was appointed climate and energy minister.

Hedegaard will lead the work up to the UN climate summit in Copenhagen in 2009, where Denmark will push for a new international climate agreement. (Reporting by Kim McLaughlin, editing by Tony Austin)

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