The requirement was introduced by the former minister of integration, Inger Støjberg in 2018. What does it mean? If you have applied for Danish citizenship, you need to attend a ceremony where you need to shake the hand of the mayor. If you refuse, it doesn’t matter if you fulfill all the other conditions; you will not be granted citizenship. According to Moderaterne, it’s a ridiculous requirement that doesn’t belong in a free society. You should be able to greet people as you feel comfortable.
- Unfortunately, neither Socialdemokratiet (social democrats) nor Venstre (liberals) are open to the idea of removing the requirement.
