"Not surprised if there are new elections" Concern: Political chaos

The immigration issue is absent from the Danish election campaign 

 

Of: Wolfgang Hansson 

 

Published: Yesterday 21.22 

 

Updated: Yesterday 21.55 

 

NEWS 

 

COPENHAGEN. For once, neither immigration nor crime are at the top of the agenda when Denmark goes to the polls. 

 

- The Social Democrats killed the refugee issue when they took over the politics of the Danish People's Party. Strict immigration policy has become mainstream, says voter Henrik Beha Pedersen, 59. 

 

He stands and peddles his plastic boat in one of the canals just a few blocks away from Christiansborg where Denmark's politicians sit and rule. 

 

A junction box with various thin wires is lying on the floor together with some tools to fix the fault that occurred after someone crashed the boat. 

 

A bit of the same mess characterizes Denmark. A total of 14 parties are standing in the election and several of them are completely new. Something that completely turned the Danish political map upside down. 

 

For the sake of the unusual, it looks like Denmark will imitate Sweden instead of the other way around. 

 

 

DF's party chairman Morten Messerschmidt together with party colleagues Hans Blaaberg and Majbritt Birkholm presented the party's legal and immigration policy in the Landstingsalen at Christiansborg on Sunday. Photo: Martin Sylvest / Ritzau Scanpix / TT 

 

Henrik Beha Pedersen, 59, says he would not be surprised if it ends with new elections. Henrik Beha Pedersen, 59, says he would not be surprised if it ends with new elections. Photo: BJÖRN LINDAHL

 

Lars Lökke Rasmussen, former prime minister, has formed the party Moderaterne, which primarily focuses on health care as an election issue. The question that has now taken first place in the minds of most Danes. 

 

Rasmussen refuses to say whether he intends to support the left-wing bloc, led by Social Democratic Prime Minister Mette Fredriksen, or the right-wing bloc to which he himself once belonged. 

 

No majority for either right or left 

 

This means that the bloc policy, which has been so cemented in Danish politics, may well come to an end. According to opinion polls, neither the left nor the right can muster a majority of their own. 

 

Not without Lars Lökke Rasmussen. 

 

Therefore, many believe that it will take a long time to form a new government. Maybe as long as in Sweden after the 2018 election. 

 

- It wouldn't actually surprise me if it all ends with new elections, says Henrik Beha Pedersen as he attacks the headland tangled with wires. Many have taken such strong positions that they find it difficult to make ends meet without falling victim to the betrayal debate. 

 

He personally thinks the climate is the most important election issue. 

 

- There are so many other things that boil down to the climate. If we don't solve the climate issue, we won't solve the security policy either. 

 

But the Danish environmental parties lead a waning existence, several are close to the two percent threshold for the parliament. 

 

- It's the same with the climate issue as with immigration, says Pedersen. The major parties have made it theirs. Now the environmental parties are most needed as pushers.

Lykke Mogensen, 71, swings between the Social Democrats, the Danish People's Party or skipping the election. Photo: BJÖRN LINDAHL 

 

On a park bench up on a bridge near Pedersen's boat sits pensioner Lykke Mogensen, 71 years old. At best, she is thinking about whether she should vote for the Danish People's Party, the Social Democrats or not vote at all. 

 

- I think politicians mostly argue with each other, she says and chases away a large seagull parked on the pram she uses as a shopping trolley. 

 

- Everything is very confusing. I think Mette Fredriksen managed the pandemic fight very well, but then she gave the order to kill all minks. Since then it has been a great life. 

 

"Huge staff shortage in healthcare" 

 

When it turned out that Fredriksen's decision to have all of Denmark's minks euthanized in order not to risk the spread of the coronavirus was illegal, it was ultimately this that forced the Prime Minister to call early new elections. 

 

A guide boat glides under the mirror-like water of the bridge while Lykke Mogensen explains why she thinks the Danish People's Party has been undeservedly scolded. 

 

- It is one of the few parties that really fights for us pensioners and for healthcare. Pensions have not been increased for ten years and we have a huge staff shortage in care, not least in care for the elderly. The elderly do not receive the care they are entitled to. 

 

Lykke Mogensen looks unhappy and says that she recently received a bill for 7,000 kroner after a visit to the dentist. She had to pay for everything herself. 

 

- I could have gotten SEK 250 back from the state if I filled in a bunch of forms online, but I couldn't do it. The new technology is not for me. 

 

"A broad majority is required"

 

It's a mild day in Copenhagen, so IT developer Sören Woller, 48, eats a quick lunch outside with his 10-year-old daughter while waiting for a doctor's appointment.

He believes that Lars Lökke Rasmussen can be the one who decides who gets to rule Denmark in the future. 

 

- There seems to be a consensus among the Danes that one should move towards the middle, given all the crises we see in the world, he says. A broad political majority is required to solve the problems.

 

Sören Woller, 48, with daughter Ester, 10. Photo: BJÖRN LINDAHL  

 

The election posters dominate the cityscape in Copenhagen. Photo: BJÖRN LINDAHL

He is not at all surprised that parties such as the Danish People's Party have fallen sharply in support.

 

- They have lost a bit of their right to exist now that almost all parties agree that Denmark should have a strict immigration policy. Now it's high electricity bills and the economy that people worry about. 

 

Have cut off the cable ties for the posters 

 

Parts of the Danish capital are completely dominated by election posters and election messages. Some obviously don't like it. 

 

On the bridge over to Christiansborg, someone has systematically cut off all the plastic ties that hold up the posters. Instead, they lie with their front facing the asphalt. All that is visible are the white backs with imprints from wet shoes. 

 

But the large poster with a smiling Mette Fredriksen and the message "Into an uncertain future with a firm hand" has been left alone. It hangs too high. 

 

33-year-old Christoffer Thomsen is on his way home by bicycle after a day's work in the restaurant in Christiansborg where many elderly people come and eat every day. 

- They don't look happy, he says, leaning against the black bicycle. Many find it difficult to cope with all the price increases. 

 

Christoffer Thomsen, 33, believes that the Moderates will have a key role after the election. Photo: BJÖRN LINDAHL 

 

The economy is one of the most important election issues for Christoffer, alongside the climate. But he still has a hard time deciding who to vote for. 

 

- I listened to the final debate on TV and almost all the parties said exactly the same things, he complains. They are so very similar. 

 

"Not worthy of a rich country" 

 

At the same time, he sees how the healthcare system is bleeding after all the problems during the pandemic. 

 

- There is no help for young people who suffer from mental illness. Elderly people affected by dementia may have to wait a year before receiving any treatment. It is not worthy of a rich country like Denmark. Urgent measures are required here. 

 

Christoffer Thomsen has an idea about how the election ends. 

 

- It will be the Moderates and Lars Lökke Rasmussen that all the others have to talk to. 

 

Tuesday evening or Wednesday morning we will know if he is right.