Weekly political overview
Historically, the four largest cities in Denmark have been run by social democrats. Its been more than a century uninterrupted in Copenhagen and Aalborg. Will they be able to maintain leadership after next year’s local elections? Difficult to say. The prime minister’s popularity is mediocre (Socialdemokratiet is hovering at 20%, which is low for the party that has been largest in Denmark since the ‘30s), several very popular mayors ended their mandates before their time, and a lot of young candidates haven’t built yet a strong, popular base.
Good news for soldier veterans suffering from PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). From early 2026, veterans will no longer need to prove that their PTSD is a consequence of the deployment. Instead, there is a reversed burden of proof, which means that the authorities need to prove that PTSD is not a consequence of deployment abroad. At least 400 cases where the PTSD diagnosis has been rejected will be reopened, and the veterans will be eligible for benefits.
Proposals from political parties
- The new Digitalization Minister (Caroline Stage Olsen from Moderaterne) wants to declare war on the algorithms and end the curse of “forever scrolling.” This is the next stage of the “war on screens” declared by the government not so long ago.
Snapshots from the political stage
- Internal struggles at Enhedslisten. A faction called “Red Left” wants to move the party more to the left, calling out the recent steer towards the center and the compromising type of politics pursued. To avoid an open faction war, the current leadership will organize an extraordinary general assembly, where they will change the rules so that they can exclude the members of the “Red Left” faction.
- Several social democrat mayors are pressuring the Minister for the Green Tripartite Agreement to be more ambitious in the reduction of nitrogen discharged by farmers in coastal waters. The mayors want to reduce nitrogen by 14,100 tons while the Minister prefers a scenario with a 12,900-ton reduction. What’s at stake? The future of aquatic life in coastal waters.
- A book about the Danish Royal House’s relationship with the Nazis in the 1930s has created waves in society and started a debate about the role of Danish Nazi collaborationists.
Focus
Liberal Alliance (Libertarian Conservative), Konservative (Conservatives), DF (Nationalist Conservatives), DD (Nationalist Populist), and Enhedslisten (Red Green Alliance) have been kicked out of the negotiations for the 2025 finance law due to unrealistic demands. The government was willing to negotiate the distribution of 500 million DKK, while the five parties had demands well exceeding 12 billion DKK without being able to say from where the extra money would come from.
- This is an unexpectedly favourable situation for the other three opposition parties left at the table. SF (Socialists), Alternativet (Greens), and Radikale Venstre (Social Liberals) will be able to share the 500 million DKK up for negotiation for their own priorities. Fewer parties, more money to share. 🙂
- Enhedslisten wanted to increase the national pension by 5,500 DKK per year and the early retirement pension by 7,500 DKK per year. The cost would have been 10 billion DKK.
- The government has the majority needed to pass the finance law. However, there is an unwritten rule that the government will always leave some money in the budget to finance ideas coming from the opposition parties.
