Denmark's Political Right takes power after 80 years.

Telegraph (Online) ^ | 11/22/01 | Ambrose Evans-Pritchard

[janus]

Denmark's Right ends 80 years in wilderness

By Ambrose Evans-Pritchard in Brussels

(Filed: 22/11/2001)

DENMARK'S political Right prepared to take power yesterday with its first majority for 80 years, ending the historic domination of the Left-wing Social Democratic Party.

Anders Fogh Rasmussen The man expected to become prime minister, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, led his free-market Venstre party to victory with a campaign to cut hospital waiting lists, to improve care for the elderly and to prop up Denmark's creaky welfare system - a strategy that is sure to be studied closely by Britain's Tories. Tax cuts were not on offer.

The Social Democrat leader, Poul Nyrup Rasmussen (no relation), appeared to have made a disastrous mistake by calling a snap election in the wake of the terrorist attacks of September 11.

It was a repeat of the blunder he made last year by calling and losing a needless referendum on the euro. His dire predictions that Denmark would experience higher interest rates and a run on the krone if there was a "No" vote - neither of which has happened - were thrown back at him with relish by the Eurosceptic parties in television advertisements during the closing days of the campaign.

The far-Right Danish People's Party, led by Pia Kjaersgaard, surged from 7.4 to 12 per cent in Tuesday's vote with demands for tougher immigration and asylum rules, as well as heavier prison sentences for violent criminals.

Remainder of story can be accessed at Telegraph URL

[janus]

I haven't read anything by Ambrose Evans-Pritchard in months.

[No!]

This is BIG NEWS in the great scheme of things...

Thanks for posting it...

[Professional]

Most EXCELLENT. I'm from Sweden, hoping their next.

Most Americans don't realize just how PO'd the locals are about immigration. We think we have it bad here! The entire culture of Europe is being destroyed by over immigration, and the locals know it. Thank goodness they are willing to do something about it.

Now if we just had honest elections in this country, we could solve this problem too.

[southernnorthcarolina]

Great news! When Scandanavia starts tilting to the right, things must be going well. Although it may seem trivial to some, it is often the case that election results in Europe mimick each other. The case could even be made that such trends can span the Atlantic (Thatcher and Reagan, for example).

Havarti and Carlsberg for everyone!

[northernwilson]

If a liberal, socialist state like Denmark can turn itself around, then there is indeed hope for the rest of Europe to do the same. 911 and the support it received from Moslems around the world is getting people to question the whole idea of multiculturalism.

[Freedom'sWorthIt]

Thank God! Thank God! Thank God!!!!!! A small start - but a start in making a dent in socialized Europe!

May this be the beginning of a trend. May people in Europe wake up to the disaster that socialism is - no matter what the fluff.

I've been told that all Europeans workers START OUT with 4 weeks of fully paid vacation (many taking the entire month of August off) - and then add from there. Let's see the American socialists in the Demonazi party propose that part of Eurosocialism and see what pennies they will raise in donations from America's corporate elite.

Not the this election marks an end to that amazing "perk" of socialism. It just implies that lean and mean does not fit the description of most European countries/workforces. Downsizing there, also, is a huge hassle. Of course workers are happy - but how do businesses compete?

Back to Denmark - very very happy to see this news for this nation. Hope it shakes up all the Euro/American socialists - especially Hillarywitch.

[crystalk]

Someone--was it Mark Twain?--said, "The prospect of being hanged at sunrise concentrates the mind wonderfully."

Socialism and euro-mishmosh has led only to two camels in every garage and 40 Arabs in every rental apartment. Terrorism and Islamic takeover are not just on the horizon, but nearer than that. There was indeed, something rotten in the state of Denmark.

But: is this enough to reverse things?

[Theodore R.]

I don't see how the "right" has won anything in socialist Denmark. The "conservative" party says it will improve on the delivery of liberal programs, and that is called a "conservative" victory? Please explain. That's like the voters choosing Willkie in 1940 because he would "implement" the New Deal more "effectively" than his ideological twin, FDR. The role model for this "conservative" party must be Rudy Giuliani, who has shown how liberal program can work in NYC. I still say Giuliani has given the liberals a new lease on the hearts and minds of Northeasterners in the United States. Yet it is the "conservatives" who cheer him.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Glad they won, but their issues don't exactly sound like a traditional free-market, conservative platform:
cut hospital waiting lists
improve care for the elderly
prop up Denmark's creaky welfare system
tax cuts not on offer.

[norton]

Interested in your comments:

Now if we just had honest elections in this country, we could solve this problem too.

Wanna 'splain that?

[AMDG&BVMH]

The man expected to become prime minister, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, led his free-market Venstre party to victory with a campaign to cut hospital waiting lists, to improve care for the elderly and to prop up Denmark's creaky welfare system

Interesting . . . According to der Spiegel, immigration was the MAIN THEME of the election campaign, not the above laundry list. "Main theme of the election campaign was the immigration policy of the government, with which a growing number of Danes are unhappy." [http://www.spiegel.de/druckversion/0,1588,168738,00.html]

[Tailback]

My Sister is married to a Dane and lives near Copenhagen. She was required by Danish law to take a Danish language immersion class and be given a comprehension test BEFORE she was allowed to work. Why does a socialist country like Denmark have such common sense laws and the USA doesn't? Furthermore it shows that the turd world immigrants (invaders) have no intention of assimilating into the general population when they HAVE TO speak the language but still gang-rape women and whine when they're punished for it.

[Freedom'sWorthIt]

I don't know enough about Danish politics to answer your question - just responding to the post. You are right, though - standing to the "right" of socialists in Europe would be equivalent of a NE Liberal Republican here.

[Professional]

You're kidding right?

Were you not in the US last fall? It certainly turned out that Florida wasn't the only place that had violated ballots. It isn't who casts the votes, it's who counts them. This countries elections are about as honest as any third world tyranny. 150% dem turnouts, 30% republican....

[norton]

I don't question your statement about fraud - I don't understand the linkage between that and the original post.

[mlocher]

quick, cover up the statue at copenhagen harbor...

[PoisedWoman]

I've been told that all Europeans workers START OUT with 4 weeks of fully paid vacation (many taking the entire month of August off) - and then add from there.

This is wonderful! And not a problem for a country like Germany, for example, where prosperity is at such a high level that almost everyone makes money, workers and corporations. Germans and Scandinavians are hard workers, and everyone contributes tax money to the pot. The whole mindset can be quite different under such circumstances. What looks like socialism from a distance is relatively fair and helps create a peaceful, prosperous society over there. Excellent social services help all the citizens without breaking down the system.

But now, with immigrants piling onto their shores and stretching their social services to the breaking point without contributing much, if anything, financially, Scandinavians are beginning to understand what we go through in this country. They are a cohesive enough group to nip the problems in the bud.

[AnalogReigns]

Hmmm, now that they're not (so) socialist, the important thing is, I wonder if the Danish women are still knockouts...?