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Election day in Denmark

MRC_Hans

Penultimate Amazing
MRC_Hans
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Aug 28, 2002
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Just back from doing my duty as a citizen. We have an election today, electing our parlament. Probability has that the present government coalition will get another term, but you never know till the last vote is counted, which is usually shortly before midnight. The ballots will close at 8pm.

Actually, this is not quite true; once over 15% of the votes are counted, the prognoses get pretty accurate, unless it's a knife-edge outcome.

We'll see...

Hans
 
MRC_Hans said:
Just back from doing my duty as a citizen. We have an election today, electing our parlament. Probability has that the present government coalition will get another term, but you never know till the last vote is counted, which is usually shortly before midnight. The ballots will close at 8pm.

Actually, this is not quite true; once over 15% of the votes are counted, the prognoses get pretty accurate, unless it's a knife-edge outcome.

We'll see...

Hans
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What about all those disenfranchised voters who have to live outside the country because they're married to foreigners? Don't kid yourself, you're living in a dictatorship! Count every vote! No justice, no peace!

Kidding aside, congratulations, and I mean that sincerely. We should always celebrate whenever any country has free elections, even if they've been doing it for a hundred years or more.
 
Just gave Christine Antorini a vote. First time I have voted social democratic, I'm usually a socialistic people's party person.

It doesn't hurt she's nice looking as well. :D
 
Mmm, exit polls don't look favorable for the opposition. Worst thing is that the "Dansk Folkeparti" stays in influence. It is an extreme right, semi-racist party. They try to appear like a center party, but it's a thin varnish.

Hans
 
Also voted.

The voting % will be about 85%, which is average.

And to think that only about 50% of Americans vote.... Even the Iraqis voted more often... ;)
 
plindboe said:
Just gave Christine Antorini a vote. First time I have voted social democratic, I'm usually a socialistic people's party person.
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Oh well, at least you're heading in the right direction. ;)
 
Could you please be more specific?

Are the socialists or the conservatives ahead? Also, which is the position of those who are winning towards the EU?

Did you have any discussions during the pre-electoral period about revising your stance towards the monetary union and Euro?

Lots of questions but the best way to learn is always to listen to what the local have to say. :)

edited to add: When I refer to the conservatives I have in mind the so called Christian Democrats.

Also what about the extreme right ? Do they increase their power?
 
Cleopatra said:
Could you please be more specific?
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Certainly. According to the exitpolls it appears that the current administration can continue. The current administration is a coalition of Venstre (a liberal party, where liberal is in the European sense) and Konservative (the Conservatives).

Are the socialists or the conservatives ahead? Also, which is the position of those who are winning towards the EU?
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Venstre is very pro-EU, the Conservatives are perhaps less so, but still pro. In Denmark, its the socialists who are against.

Did you have any discussions during the pre-electoral period about revising your stance towards the monetary union?
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Nope. There was almost no discussion of the EU or even the war in Iraq. The major subject was probably immigration policy.

Lots of questions but the best way to learn is always to listen to what the local have to say. :)
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Indeed. Glad to be of service.
 
It's actually quite interesting how the result (so far!) is being presented.

The ruling parties (Right Wing parties) have actually lost mandates - again, so far - 5 of them. But it is presented as if the government has won.

The government has been a minority government, depending of the mandates of the very right-wing Danish People's Party, but not having the party in the government.

It looks as if this doesn't change, although the parliamentary basis has shrinked. 5 mandates are actually a lot.

But I wouldn't call a netto loss a victory. It is most definitely a diminishing faith in the current government.

One thing is certain: "The Handbag" is victorious!

Ah, Danish politics....hard to explain... :)
 
DanishDynamite said:
Doesn't he live in the US? If so, as a non-resident Dane, he can't vote.
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He's said on more than one occasion he holds dual citizenship. Does he actually have to live there? No absentee ballot?
 
Tnx DD.

DanishDynamite said:
[but still pro. In Denmark, its the socialists who are against.
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I find amazing how the socialist parties in Europe have embraced euroskepticism! I mean, socialism was founded on Internationalism which was a totally Marxist concept! EU is supposed to abolish nations and creat a union instead quite a socialist concept but still the socialist parties have developed into euroskeptic entities.

The major subject was probably immigration policy.
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This is a huge issue. A control in immigration is essential but on the other hand those foreigners pay for our pensions since Europe grows old pretty fast...
 
CFLarsen said:
It's actually quite interesting how the result (so far!) is being presented.

The ruling parties (Right Wing parties) have actually lost mandates - again, so far - 5 of them. But it is presented as if the government has won.

The government has been a minority government, depending of the mandates of the very right-wing Danish People's Party, but not having the party in the government.

It looks as if this doesn't change, although the parliamentary basis has shrinked. 5 mandates are actually a lot.

But I wouldn't call a netto loss a victory. It is most definitely a diminishing faith in the current government.

One thing is certain: "The Handbag" is victorious!

Ah, Danish politics....hard to explain... :)
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Spoken like a true spin-doctor! The current administration has (apparently) been re-elected, and you would like that to sound like a defeat.

Good try, Claus. ;)
 
DaChew said:
He's said on more than one occasion he holds dual citizenship. Does he actually have to live there? No absentee ballot?
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Indeed, he has to live here. I beleive the only exception to this rule is if you are a student studying abroad or you you are an expat sent to work in another country for a Danish company.
 
Cleopatra said:
I find amazing how the socialist parties in Europe have embraced euroskepticism! I mean, socialism was founded on Internationalism which was a totally Marxist concept! EU is supposed to abolish nations and creat a union instead quite a socialist concept but still the socialist parties have developed into euroskeptic entities.
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Actually, I don't think the Danish situation is the same in other EU-countries. My understanding is that in the UK, for example, its the Conservatives who are against EU.
This is a huge issue. A control in immigration is essential but on the other hand those foreigners pay for our pensions since Europe grows old pretty fast...
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Yes, it is a somewhat sticky issue. I guess we'll just need to have more children. And practice makes perfect.
 
DanishDynamite said:
Venstre is very pro-EU, the Conservatives are perhaps less so, but still pro. In Denmark, its the socialists who are against.
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Hmm, it's the far left(Enhedslisten) and the far right(Dansk folkeparti) who's against the EU. The other parties are offically for, though with internal disagreement in some of them(esp.Socialistisk folkeparti), so it's not correct to say the anti-EUers are the socialists.
 
Cleopatra said:

This is a huge issue. A control in immigration is essential but on the other hand those foreigners pay for our pensions since Europe grows old pretty fast...
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Without wanting to derail this thread, its worth bearing in mind that immigrants grow old too. You cant keep a country running by continualy funnelling in new people- theres a limit to what poulation a country can sustain and still maintain a decent standard of living.
 
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