As the first Tuesday in October, Denmark’s politicians and royalty gathered today at Christiansborg to open the Folketing as tradition prescribes.
And the big question was whether Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen wanted to call a new general election after the governing coalition Radikale’s ultimatum of no confidence in July.
Well, she didn’t. At least not today, although she gave several indications that she would in the near future…probably this week.
War in Europe
She began her speech by saying goodbye to three giants in Danish politics – Bertel Haarder, Marianne Jelved and Henrik Dam Kristensen – who have all announced that they want to retire from politics.
Frederiksen then spoke about the new uncertain situation that Denmark and the world are facing with the war in Ukraine, increasing inflation and the energy crisis.
“The world changed forever when Putin sent Russian troops into Ukraine on February 24. But we stand stronger. Sweden and Finland have made the historic decision to join NATO, and a majority of Danes voted in June to abolish the defence’s opt-out,” said Frederiksen.
“We have to take on a more offensive role internationally. Or others will.”
Stand together
Frederiksen went on to argue that the pandemic, the war in Europe and the energy crisis further prove that it is important for political parties and the public in Denmark to stand together.
Therefore, Denmark needs to relax the legislation on foreign labor and embrace reforms that increase employment – especially in light of the large group of the population that will soon retire.
Some of these reforms will concern education, as Frederiksen argued that universities are still stuck in a time when the primary goal was to do research or specialize.
She questioned whether everyone in the country should spend five years going to university.
No resting on the laurels
Afterwards, Frederiksen praised Denmark for taking on a leading role in the global climate fight and green transition.
“In the future, we will not only supply green power to the whole of Denmark, but to half of Europe. And we can be proud of that,” she said.
But more must be done on that front, said the prime minister, if Denmark is to protect its clean drinking water. A CO2 tax on the agricultural sector, a green domestic aviation sector and the production of much more sustainable energy will help the climate, reduce prices and remove dependence on Putin.
Cooperation at the forefront
Frederiksen then took on Denmark’s “failed immigration policy” and claimed that there are still people coming to the country who do not “share our values.”
This requires new paths to be taken, such as moving asylum processing outside Europe’s borders and cracking down harder on crime.
And with the speech winding down and a forthcoming new government on the horizon, Frederiksen once again emphasized the importance of politicians working together in these tumultuous times.
She thanked the leaders of her red bloc allies for their cooperation over the past three years.
“Nine out of ten policy deals this term have been agreed across the political centre,” she said.
Read the Prime Minister’s full speech here.
To take radical steps
In the meantime, Radikale seems to have shot itself in the foot – the party has plummeted in the opinion polls since leader Sophie Carsten Nielsen issued an ultimatum of no confidence in the summer.
With several new Blue Bloc parties forming, the maneuver could ultimately backfire and lead to a new Blue Bloc government.
Since the last general election, the blue bloc has been strengthened by the emergence of two new parties, the Moderates and the Danish Democrats, with significant leadership in Lars Løkke Rasmussen and Inger Støjberg.
Source: The Nordic Page
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