Here you can get an overview of the case, which has been heavily criticized at Christiansborg:
* November 4: Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen says that all of Denmark’s mink – 15-17 million – must be killed because coronavirus has mutated among mink and has spread to humans. The mutation can endanger coronavina vaccine.
In addition, stricter restrictions are being introduced in seven North Jutland municipalities with mink mutations.
* November 6: The Danish Veterinary and Food Administration repeats the Prime Minister’s message in an email to the mink breeders. It says that all mink – including those outside the safety zones – must be killed as soon as possible. So also very fast mink. The word “shall” is mentioned 31 times.
* November 8: Berlingske writes that the government has no authority in the legislation to kill mink in Denmark if they are not sick or in an area of disease. In other words, the government cannot demand the killing of mink outside the so-called security zones.
The wording of the government is changing. Before, it sounded like all mink had to be killed. On this day, the food minister says the government had written to the mink breeders “with a call to start killing”.
The Minister of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries tells rapporteurs in the parliamentary parties that the government will submit a proposal for an emergency law on Tuesday 10 November, which can give powers to demand that all mink be killed.
* November 9: Blue bloc consisting of the Liberals, the Conservatives, the Liberal Alliance and the New Citizens reach an agreement not to support the urgent treatment of the bill.
* The Minister of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries regrets that the government has been unclear in its communication about the lack of legal authority.
* November 10: The Prime Minister and the Minister of Food say that they only found out this weekend that the order was illegal. Mette Frederiksen regrets the case, but she says that in the end it is Mogens Jensen’s responsibility.
The parties in the blue bloc say that Mogens Jensen should resign. The Unity List, which is among the government’s support parties, says the party “in no way” can guarantee he can stay in office. The message comes from political spokesperson Pernille Skipper (EL) to TV2.
The food minister says he is not resigning as minister.
* November 11: The Minister of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries has been summoned for consultation on the mink case. Here he does not answer when he became aware that it was an illegal mink instruction or by whom. He refers to the fact that it will appear in a forthcoming statement.
Mogens Jensen only says that he received the message about the lack of legal authority this weekend, but not which day. Mette Frederiksen has stated on 10 November that she was notified on Sunday 8 November.
* November 13: The Folketing first considers the government’s bill, which, among other things, must ensure the necessary legal authority to kill all mink. There is support for the bill from the government’s support parties The Radicals, the Socialist People’s Party and the Unity List, even though they criticize the government for not having control of the legal basis.
The bourgeois parties do not support the bill as it is put forward. The opposition wants Mogens Jensen to confirm that a crime has been committed. The Minister regrets that “mistakes have been made” repeatedly in the debate.
* November 16: The government, the Unity List, the Radicals, the Socialist People’s Party and the Alternative enter into a political agreement on a temporary ban on mink. In this way, a legal basis can be made for all the country’s mink to be killed.
* November 17: The support party De Radikale casts doubt on Mogens Jensen’s ministerial future due to the crime. It looks “difficult” for Mogens Jensen, says political spokesman Andreas Steenberg (R) to Ritzau.
Mogens Jensen is again in consultation on the matter. He once again deplores the lack of legal authority, but points out that a political agreement has now been reached to put it in order.
The minister also says that on Sunday morning / morning, ie 8 November, he called around to the parties to obtain support for a legal basis. He reiterates that a letter was sent to the mink breeders. It was supposed to be sent on Monday, November 9, but due to a technical error, it did not happen until Tuesday, November 10.
Mogens Jensen still does not answer when he became aware of the lack of legal authority.
Sources: TV2, DR, Ritzau.