Audiences with Margrethe & the Political Role of the Danish Monarch: 2004 - 2023


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Today QMII met two ambassadors for a farewell audience.

One of them is (he'll remain the ambassador until relieved) the Aerican ambassador Rufus Gifford and his husband, Steve. - They were married in DK BTW.
He was honored with the Grand Cross of the Order of Dannebrog for his work in creating good relations between DK and USA.
- I don't know if that's fairly normal.
Rørt Rufus Gifford hædret af dronning Margrethe | BILLED-BLADET
 
The description of the current political crisis has been moved to this thread, as this is about QMII's constitutional role as well.

Ill try to be as unbiased as possible, but I don't think I can.

First a little background info.
The current Parliament consists of eight parties divided into two blocks.
Four parties belong to the red block, which consists of socialist parties, - of which one is anything but socialist!
Four parties belong to the blue block, of which one party is really leaning most towards socialism. - Confused? Good.
The word Liberal means in Danish/European context right-wing. I.e. less government, fewer taxes, more privatization.

The current government constellation consists of three parties:
The Liberals = In favor of capitalism, but under control. We don't want another financial crisis!
The Conservatives = In favor of traditional values, but with a human streak. We have responsibilities towards people.
Liberal Alliance = Preferably unrestricted capitalism with as little government as at all possible.
They are supported by the largest party in blue block (they were prudent enough to stay out of government) the Danish Peoples Party = Basically right wing nationalist social democrats, EU-skeptics who wants to curb immigration as much as possible, especially Muslims. - Since they have the decisive votes, they are very much the ones in charge. On top of that they have been flirting and indeed co-operated with red block - sometimes against the policy of the government.
Being in government does not necessarily mean you have power.

The absolute main agenda for Liberal Alliance is to cut taxes - a lot!
The problem is that there is no particular political will, nor any particular wish in the population in general for tax-cuts. Many if not most believe the financial crisis meant the hospitals, schools, care, policing and so on has been cut to the bone and it's now time to adjust that. - Especially since the economy is booming. The unemployment is down to around 4% (which is pretty normal level, since it's very easy to hire and fire in DK) and the businesses are screaming for employees.
So if there are to be tax-cuts it should benefit those with lower wages. Liberal Alliance can live with that, but prefer tax-cuts for those high-earners. Reaganomics you know. Tax cuts for the wealthiest will lead to more spending and investments, resulting in the money trickling down, creating more jobs. - There is however no way in this world such tax-cuts will be passed in the Parliament! There is little political will for it and Danish People's Party only want tax-cuts, if any, in the bottom of the income scale.

Last year Liberal Alliance threatened to topple the government, if there weren't substantial tax-cuts.
I don't like the PM, Lars Løkke, but he is a very shrewd negotiator! He got Liberal Alliance to join the government. They got titles and ministries and in return they got a promise where tax-cuts would be considered - eventually.
After a few months it dawned on Liberal Alliance that they have been screwed thoroughly! To the undivided glee of most other parties.
 
Fast forward to 2017.
Each year the government must pass a Finance Bill, for the state budget of next year. That bill must according to the Constitution be passed by the end of 2017. No bill, no budget.
No budget means that the government does not have a majority for it's policy, and if a government has a majority against it on the Finance Bill, it can't rule. That is de facto a vote of no confidence.
What will happen is that the Parliament will vote for extending the current Finance Law, until a new one is in place.
That would be such a huge defeat for any government that it will have to resign.
It probably has happened before, but I can't recall when.

Okay, this year Liberal Alliance learned from their mistakes from last year and insisted on tax-cut negotiations being linked to the negotiations about the Finance Bill, and at the same time they would negotiate about the very substantial restrictions on immigration that Danish Peoples Party so much desire - and for which there is a wish for in the general public, so the Danish People's Party has the upper hand here.
The negotiations dragged on, led by the Minister of Finance, Kristian Jensen. He is also the crown prince in the main government party, the Liberals. However, the PM, Lars Løkke, can't stand the sight of him!

By late November the Finance Bill was pretty much in place, but Danish Peoples Party and Liberal Alliance could not agree on tax-cuts. So Thulesen Dahl, the leader of Danish Peoples Party, went out and said: Let's split the negotiations up. Let's pass the Finance Bill and keep negotiating the tax and immigration issues.
Sorry, no, said the Minister of Finance. No can do. We negotiate all or nothing.
So Thulesen Dahl went out calling for the PM, to intervene.
And so he did. PM called a meeting.
We adults had a chat and now dad's fixed the whole thing. - Leaving the Minster for Finance, whom the PM loathe, humiliated.
Thulesen Dahl could hardly contain his glee either, because that cut the Finance Minister down to size. He has been talking about that when his time comes, we should have more globalization and more immigration and a more liberal economy - This way Danish Peoples Party reminded him: Only if we say so!

So early this month the government parties went out to press, delighted to present the new Finance Bill - and being in total agreement that the negotiations regarding tax-cuts and curbing immigration should otherwise continue, preferably to be concluded before Christmas.

- And now the real fun begins!

Literally a few minutes before the government went out to the press, the spokesman for economy in Liberal Alliance tweeted: That if we don't get very large tax cuts from the other negotiations and before Christmas, we will vote against the Finance Bill!
Of course the journalists asked whether Liberal Alliance would seriously vote against their own Finance Bill, they had just agreed on?!? And thus topple themselves!?! - Eeh, we are confident there will be tax-cuts before Christmas...

Okay, so now the negotiations regarding tax-cuts and immigration are in full swing. That is, they are not! Because Danish Peoples Party and Liberal Alliance can hardly agree on what day it is! And since they are not the ones who have issued ultimatums, they are not in a hurry.
Instead they and everybody else have asked: Will the government vote in favor of its own Finance Bill, yes or no? And we ended up in the bizarre situation that the PM had to go and say: Of course the government will vote in favor of its own Finance Bill.
But when the ministers from Liberal Alliance were asked the same question, they did not say the same thing as their boss: There will be an agreement before Christmas.
- There are rumors that the PM has had his desk replaced, since there were bite-marks in it! He was no doubt ballistic!

You see Liberal Alliance say they were promised that the tax-negotiations would be concluded by Christmas and that they would mean massive tax-cuts, "the largest tax-cuts in Danish history".
But Thulesen Dahl points out: They weren't even there when I sorted out the mess with dad... I mean, the PM. There were given no such promises. In fact it's far from certain we will agree on anything before Christmas, there is really no need for tax-cuts anyway and the immigration issue is complicated legal wise, so no hurry here.

So the negotiations continue. And suddenly Liberal Alliance announced: We have secured a tax-cut for eight billion DKK, and expects to reach twelve Billion DKK. - As in we, Liberal Alliance, have secured these tax-cuts.
That was a bad idea!
Danish People's Party immediately made it clear: There is no agreement. As such there are no tax-cuts - yet. If ever! And it is in now way certain we will reach an agreement before Christmas. Got it!?!

If there is something that can seriously p*ss off those you negotiate with: it's blabbing up about what they might agree on and taking the credit. Especially in advance. - It also annoys the coalition partners who naturally would also like a slice of the glory.

So now the negotiations on tax-cuts have pretty much stalled. The negotiations on immigration are continuing, because the government and Danish Peoples Party can pretty much agree on that.
The leader of Danish Peoples Party has been extraordinarily sharp. He doesn't like to "negotiate with a revolver on the table" but "if the government want's to topple itself" he can't do much about it. He has also labeled the whole thing, read: Liberal Alliance, "a circus", "a mess" and "a kindergarten" and he has called for the PM to intervene and "sort out his government".

The last vote on the Finance Bill takes place on 22nd December, if there is no majority, because Liberal Alliance abstains or even worse; vote against. That's it...

Nothing like that has ever been seen in Danish history. There has never been a case where a government has voted against its own Finance Bill! A bill for which there is otherwise a majority! That is suicide on a government scale!
Because this will inevitably lead to a social democrat led government. And Liberal Alliance can kiss any hope of tax-cuts goodbye. And any hope of anyone ever trusting them again.
For the Liberals it will mean goodbye career for the PM. Oblivion awaits him. With a semi-emasculated crown prince taking over.
Danish Peoples Party are not entirely ready for a general election, so they might suffer their first real defeat ever. - But on the other hand they may establish a fruitful co-operation with the Social Democrats.
The Conservatives are the only ones who can expect a good election, but destined to being in opposition and having next to no influence.

So what happens if there is no agreement on the negotiations on tax-cuts?
A) Liberal Alliance eats up yet another humiliation, while Danish Peoples Party makes it clear who is really in charge: Sit! - Roll around! - Play dead. - That's a good party.
B) Liberal Alliance resigns from the government. - Then what? Will they vote for the Finance Bill or abstain?
The government is likely to fall anyway, if that happens.
C) The government resigns. The PM goes to QMII, informing her that he no longer has a majority. He will advise her to do a Queen-round. Where the leaders of the parties will point to who they believe will be able to lead a new government. And that will no doubt be Mette Frederiksen, the leader of the Social Democrats.
QMII will then appoint Mette Frederiksen a Royal Investigator. Mette Frederiksen will see if she has enough votes to form a government. She will if she courts Danish Peoples Party.
QMII will then ask Mette Frederiksen to form a new government.
D) The PM will call a general election. An election that without a doubt will ensure that there will be a Social Democrat led government under Mette Frederiksen. - Who will be perfectly able to work with Danish Peoples Party and the Liberals while at the same time work with the other socialist parties. - Liberal Alliance will be "The Untouchables".

The next episode in this soap opera will be on Thursday when there will be a meeting with the PM.
 
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Latest.

Danish Peoples Party has demanded a guarantee against cuts on public expenditure on welfare for the next eight years, in return for any tax-cuts worth mentioning.
The Minister for Finance and two of the parties, the Liberals and the Conservative are willing to accept that in return for the Finance Bill being passed. - They'd be willing to give their daughters hands in marriage as well! Anything to prevent the government from falling!

However, this goes against the very core of what Liberal Alliance stands for.
Because that means the public expenditures on welfare - hospitals, schools, care and so on, de facto can't be cut. I.e. no "less government" in a foreseeable future.
And the new Finance Bill means even more public expenditure as is.

So will Liberal Alliance eat this one?
They can save face on that one, but their hands will be bound.
Mette Frederiksen, the leader of the opposition, will probably laugh herself to sleep tonight!
 
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Muhler said:
Latest.

Danish Peoples Party has demanded a guarantee against cuts on public expenditure on welfare for the next eight years, in return for any tax-cuts worth mentioning.
The Minister for Finance and two of the parties, the Liberals and the Conservative are willing to accept that in return for the Finance Bill being passed. - They'd be willing to give their daughters hands in marriage as well! Anything to prevent the government from falling!

However, this goes against the very core of what Liberal Alliance stands for.
Because that means the public expenditures on welfare - hospitals, schools, care and so on, de facto can't be cut. I.e. no "less government" in a foreseeable future.
And the new Finance Bill means even more public expenditure as is.

So will Liberal Alliance eat this one?
They can save face on that one, but their hands will be bound.
Mette Frederiksen, the leader of the opposition, will probably laugh herself to sleep tonight!
Click to expand...

now I understand where the makers of Borgen got their inspiration! Pure entertainment there at Christianborg! Do please keep us informed pretty please and mange mange tak:flowers:
 
:previous: It is most entertaining! I must confess that I never got around to watch Borgen, but I Doubt the manuscript writers came up with this one.

The PM returned today and has hosted a meeting with the government coalition and their supporting party. - Or more correctly; the Danish Peoples Party and their supporting government coalition...
The delegation for the Danish Peoples Party strolled into the meeting announcing their willingness to negotiate - they just needed a draft from the government to negotiate about... at least for a start... And pledging their intent to vote in favor of the Finance Bill.
Something Liberal Alliance still would not...

Now the meeting has ended and the Danish Peoples Party has come out saying that they and the government agreed on being very far apart.
And calling it "unheard" that a government party will vote against a Finance Bill they have agreed on with their supporting party.

The Liberal Alliance still insists on very substantial tax cuts.
The Danish Peoples Party still demand equally substantial and legally-airtight tightening on the immigration laws.
And have thrown in a demand for a guarantee that the current welfare level in regards to hospitals and care for the next eight years will remain as is, preferably increase. Meaning that it will not be possible for the government to make further cutbacks in that field for the next eight years. - Something Liberal Alliance in particular would very much like to to.
Immigration and welfare are the core-issues for the voters of Danish Peoples Party.

At the same time they are courting the Social Democrats. The Finance Bill is on the table, so the Social Democrats can see what he Danish Peoples Party has agreed on. - And with a pledge to guarantee the welfare for the next eight years on top, that means the door to a co-operation with the Social Democrats, after the current government resigns or a general election is called, is wide open.
Because if the government can't agree on the current Finance Bill, the alternative Finance Bill is staring them in the face.

And now the Social Democrats have declared that they will vote in favor of the governments Finance Bill when it's voted about the third time next Friday. (*) - They always do that. Responsible party and all that. (But even here some 250 km away I can hear the Social Democrat MPs howling with laughter)!

That means Liberal Alliance is check mate.
If they vote against the Finance Bill it will have a majority anyway, and Liberal Alliance will have accomplished nothing.
If they vote in favor of the Finance Bill without securing any tax cuts, they will have humiliated themselves totally.

If Liberal Alliance vote against the Finance Bill, the government will fall. You can't have a government voting against itself!
If the government falls, Liberal Alliance can forget all about tax cuts let alone influence for at the very least the next four years. They are out.

The immigration negotiations and of course the current Finance Bill, is something the Social Democrats, The Danish Peoples Party and the Liberals should very well be able to agree on. - Supported by the Conservative from the blue corner and Socialist Peoples Party from the red corner.

In other words the three largest parties, the Social Democrats, the Danish Peoples Party and the Liberals are ganging up against Liberal Alliance.

- So how will Liberal Alliance react? Their only hope is that they somehow can persuade the Danish Peoples Party to agree on tax cuts - very much on the terms of the Danish Peoples Party... And do it before next Friday...
Their only hope is that the Danish Peoples Party can secure a very substantial tightening of the immigration screw by having the government at its mercy - that may not be as substantial if they are to negotiate with the Social Democrats and the Liberals alone.

(*) A bill goes through three motions in the Parliament.
First motion, where the bill is debated, adjustments are agreed on in the corridors and counter proposals and suggestions for amendments are put forward. If there is still a majority for the bill we move on to second motion.
Same procedure. If there is still a majority the bill moves on to the third motion where the final adjustments are agreed on. If there is still a majority the bill is made law.
The law is signed by QMII making it valid. Then it's announced in Statstidende and from then on the law is working.
 
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Muhler said:
:previous: It is most entertaining! I must confess that I never got around to watch Borgen, but I Doubt the manuscript writers came up with this one.

The PM returned today and has hosted a meeting with the government coalition and their supporting party. - Or more correctly; the Danish Peoples Party and their supporting government coalition...
The delegation for the Danish Peoples Party strolled into the meeting announcing their willingness to negotiate - they just needed a draft from the government to negotiate about... at least for a start... And pledging their intent to vote in favor of the Finance Bill.
Something Liberal Alliance still would not...

Now the meeting has ended and the Danish Peoples Party has come out saying that they and the government agreed on being very far apart.
And calling it "unheard" that a government party will vote against a Finance Bill they have agreed on with their supporting party.

The Liberal Alliance still insists on very substantial tax cuts.
The Danish Peoples Party still demand equally substantial and legally-airtight tightening on the immigration laws.
And have thrown in a demand for a guarantee that the current welfare level in regards to hospitals and care for the next eight years will remain as is, preferably increase. Meaning that it will not be possible for the government to make further cutbacks in that field for the next eight years. - Something Liberal Alliance in particular would very much like to to.
Immigration and welfare are the core-issues for the voters of Danish Peoples Party.

At the same time they are courting the Social Democrats. The Finance Bill is on the table, so the Social Democrats can see what he Danish Peoples Party has agreed on. - And with a pledge to guarantee the welfare for the next eight years on top, that means the door to a co-operation with the Social Democrats, after the current government resigns or a general election is called, is wide open.
Because if the government can't agree on the current Finance Bill, the alternative Finance Bill is staring them in the face.

And now the Social Democrats have declared that they will vote in favor of the governments Finance Bill when it's voted about the third time next Friday. (*) - They always do that. Responsible party and all that. (But even here some 250 km away I can hear the Social Democrat MPs howling with laughter)!

That means Liberal Alliance is check mate.
If they vote against the Finance Bill it will have a majority anyway, and Liberal Alliance will have accomplished nothing.
If they vote in favor of the Finance Bill without securing any tax cuts, they will have humiliated themselves totally.

If Liberal Alliance vote against the Finance Bill, the government will fall. You can't have a government voting against itself!
If the government falls, Liberal Alliance can forget all about tax cuts let alone influence for at the very least the next four years. They are out.

The immigration negotiations and of course the current Finance Bill, is something the Social Democrats, The Danish Peoples Party and the Liberals should very well be able to agree on. - Supported by the Conservative from the blue corner and Socialist Peoples Party from the red corner.

In other words the three largest parties, the Social Democrats, the Danish Peoples Party and the Liberals are ganging up against Liberal Alliance.

- So how will Liberal Alliance react? Their only hope is that they somehow can persuade the Danish Peoples Party to agree on tax cuts - very much on the terms of the Danish Peoples Party... And do it before next Friday...
Their only hope is that the Danish Peoples Party can secure a very substantial tightening of the immigration screw by having the government at its mercy - that may not be as substantial if they are to negotiate with the Social Democrats and the Liberals alone.

(*) A bill goes through three motions in the Parliament.
First motion, where the bill is debated, adjustments are agreed on in the corridors and counter proposals and suggestions for amendments are put forward. If there is still a majority for the bill we move on to second motion.
Same procedure. If there is still a majority the bill moves on to the third motion where the final adjustments are agreed on. If there is still a majority the bill is made law.
The law is signed by QMII making it valid. Then it's announced in Statstidende and from then on the law is working.
Click to expand...

This reads like a political ploy/play designed to give its players a good excuse to run up large bar and restaurant bills while working out their differences over a good carlsberg and lots of delicious Danish food! Good luck to Denmark and mange tak Muhler!:flowers:
 
https://www.billedbladet.dk/kongelige/danmark/dronning-margrethe-undskylder-i-personligt-brev

You may recall that QMII had to cancel an audience (for the first time with such a short notice BTW) recently, when she was prevented to leave London.
That has caused some criticism because people had after all turned up in their finest.
Now QMII her apologized to each who turned up in vain in letter.

- There has also been criticism of the rest of the DRF. Why didn't Frederik, Joachim, Benedikte take over?
Well, the audiences has for centuries been an opportunity for people to meet and talk to the Monarch about whatever is on their mind. The Monarch, not just any member of the royal family.
Sometimes Frederik has taken over, but he is the Crown Prince and he also needs practice before taking over.

----------------

As for the political situation. That is still locked. With very little progress and very little hope of the situation being resolved before Friday.
If no agreement is made or no face-saving solution is found, it's all down to Liberal Alliance.
If they vote against the Finance Bill the current government is certain to fall and QMII will not have time to enjoy her stay at Marselisborg during Christmas.
If they vote in favor of the Finance Bill, I can't see how Liberal Alliance can stay in government afterwards and still retain what little dignity they have left.
Some rumors claim the other two government parties are pretty annoyed with Liberal Alliance!
Some of the more liberal medial outlets blame Danish Peoples Party for the whole thing. But there is little wish for tax cuts among their voters, certainly not at the top. - And that is a sentiment shared pretty much with most of the voters in general.
So the next few days will be most interesting!
 
Well, that's it. QMII can enjoy her Christmas break in peace.

The Finance Bill will pass. It was an unconditional surrender from Liberal Alliance.
The party chairman went out and said his party would vote for the Finance Bill. The tax and immigration negotiations will continue next year - without a deadline and in the hope that it will lead to, probably not the spectacular, tax cuts.
Danish People's Party has apparently not promised anything at all in return.
He also took on his part of the responsibility "for this circus".

Well, this is the second time the chairman and Liberal Alliance has threatened to topple the government and on both occasions it has ended up in a total defeat. - His credibility is down the drain.
Normally a chairman who has messed up this bad would resign. But I doubt he will willingly. Nor will he resign as minister IMO. The glue to the seat is too strong. - But he will be very lucky if he survives the next few months politically.
It was almost unpleasant to watch - almost...

The PM went out later and explained basically that with this over the government can get back to work. He also expressed some annoyance that the Danish Peoples Party insisted on linking the tax cut negotiations with the immigration negotiations. - No wonder because the PM too would very much like tax cut at the top of the income range. - But there is no majority for it and without very substantial offerings so to speak to Danish Peoples Party there won't be any - at all.
In other words: Liberal Alliance's bungling threw away a good opportunity. And visibly weakened the government and as such also the PM.

Of course the opposition is full of glee. They got this close to taking over! And this mess means they are sure to win the next election in two years. Nothing short of a minor miracle can prevent that IMO.

So who is the winner? On the face of it Danish Peoples Party, who have shown very clearly who is really in charge. And that is correct to a considerable extent. But this has left a lot of bitterness, so Danish Peoples Party may not get that very dramatic tightening of the immigration legislation they so much hope for.
The real winner IMO is a party that is not even in Parliament yet; Nye Borgerlige = something like New Liberals.
They are now sure to enter the Parliament and get a comfortable number of seats as well.
Their policy is two-fold: Immigration and a free market economy. They are even more tough on immigration that Danish Peoples Party and believing firmly in much less government and more tax cuts.

- So if I was contemplating to immigrate to Europe from a non-western/non-EU country, perhaps with exception of countries like China, I would steer clear of Denmark! Because DK is going to take a very big step to the right in regards to immigration in two years time.
That's pretty much in line with what happens in most of Europe these years - but here much more well-organized.
 
There will be a government reshuffle tomorrow after two ministers have announced they no longer wish to continue in the Parliament after the next election and as such they resign in order for a new minister to get to know the job before the next election.
That is of course the honorable thing to do.

The ministers are Esben Lunde Larsen, Minister for Environment and Foodstuff - and seriously I think the only one I will offend by calling him the most incompetent minister of the government will be his mother.

And Minister for Education and Research, Søren Pind, who is quite different. He is one of the most outspoken members of the government and not afraid of having and voicing an unpopular opinion. He is a man I sometimes want to buy a beer and at other times want to hit on the head with said beer. But at lest I can respect him.
He feels he has burned out.

It is not yet known who will replace them or whether there will be more replacements. That will be published tomorrow.

These two ministers will write their resignations requesting QMII to accept it. Which she will and at the same time thank them for their service.

Two new (or more perhaps) potential ministers will be presented to QMII withe the request of accepting them as ministers, which she will. And then she will congratulate them.

Later there will be a takeover in the individual ministries, with short speeches and traditionally there will be an exchange of gifts.

- It is IMO likely that Frederik will be present.
 
Well, the government reshuffle has taken place.

Three ministers left.

One resigned with full honor. Søren Pind.
One was resigned. Esben Lunde.
And one was dismissed, Karen Ellemann, and recommended for the important post a Political Spokesman.

The three new ministers are interesting.
One is very competent, Jacob Ellemann.
One could be very competent, Tommy Ahlers, but I don't know him.
And the third is competent, Eva Kjer, but also controversial at times. But at least she is not afraid of speaking her mind.

Søren Pind, who chose to resign, because he felt he is burned out after 30 years in politics will be a loss for the government. Despite his somewhat, (or because of that) eccentric style, he had a very wide public appeal and being a man who stayed true to his convictions and who wasn't afraid of being controversial and go against the public opinion. That's rare among politicians, so even those who disagreed with him respected him.

Jacob Ellemann is by all accounts a very competent man.
He really ought to have been minister after last government reshuffle, but he was simply too good on his post as Political Spokesman to "be wasted as minister."
The Political Spokesman is the official voice of the party and he speaks directly on behalf of the party leader. But when the party leader is also the Prime Minister, then the Political Spokesman is also the official voice for the government and as such speaks directly for the Prime Minister.
In party political issue the spokesman is a not the chief whip, that's the job of the party Group Chairman - but he is the background holding a cane!

Now his job is vacant. And this is where his sister Karen Ellemann comes in. As mentioned previously she was dismissed as minister today, but the PM recommends that she will the new Political Spokesman - the party is almost certain to follow that recommendation.

But back to Søren Pind for a moment. Being a festive man, he recently proposed that the official minister uniform should be reintroduced. Previously the ministers wore a uniform when dealing officially with the Monarch. But no one has used it for years now. However, Søren Pind was give an okay by the PM to have a uniform made for him. And the entire press corps hoped he would wear it today at the audience with QMII and Frederik. - Alas, that didn't happen. But perhaps later when the handover takes place in the ministry.

Frederik was present at the audiences today.
 
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To the universal delight of all present, the festive Søren Pind, showed up at the official hand over in the ministry, wearing the official minister uniform: https://imbo2.tv2.dk/users/editoria...af461b250be1f824110eb594c97a010683ebe7c9c2e17
https://bdk.bmcdn.dk/media/cache/resolve/image_1500x/image/94/949174/20848388-fwe.jpg

In fact until some ten-fifteen years ago, the government actually had to submit an annual request to QMII for a dispensation for not wearing this uniform.
Then the dispensations was made more or less permanent, but Søren Pind, has lobbied for a long time for reintroducing the uniform when dealing officially with the Monarch.

Being a hardcore-Reaganite, Søren Pind has lobbied hard for a statue of President Reagan to be put up in Copenhagen. However, Copenhagen being a mainly left-wing city, so far without success.
 
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Muhler said:
To the universal delight of all present, the festive Søren Pind, showed up at the official hand over in the ministry, wearing the official minister uniform: https://imbo2.tv2.dk/users/editoria...af461b250be1f824110eb594c97a010683ebe7c9c2e17
https://bdk.bmcdn.dk/media/cache/resolve/image_1500x/image/94/949174/20848388-fwe.jpg

In fact until some ten-fifteen years ago, the government actually had to submit an annual request to QMII for a dispensation for not wearing this uniform.
Then the dispensations was made more or less permanent, but Søren Pind, has lobbied for a long time for reintroducing the uniform when dealing officially with the Monarch.

Being a hardcore-Reaganite, Søren Pind has lobbied hard for a statue of President Reagan to be put up in Copenhagen. However, Copenhagen being a mainly left-wing city, so far without success.
Click to expand...

Dear Muhler! I love the uniform and am not surprised the Reagan statue was not supported in Copenhagen; is the ex-minister allowed to wear the uniform now that he has resigned? Such a pity otherwise:bang: On the other hand, maybe he, M. Pind, will have a statue with uniform, of course:flowers:
 
gerry said:
Dear Muhler! I love the uniform and am not surprised the Reagan statue was not supported in Copenhagen; is the ex-minister allowed to wear the uniform now that he has resigned? Such a pity otherwise:bang: On the other hand, maybe he, M. Pind, will have a statue with uniform, of course:flowers:
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He would absolutely love a statue of himself, in minister uniform that is! :lol:
And oddly enough I think the the general public would appreciate the humor. :D So he would actually get away with it, I think.

Alas, that uniform was for serving ministers. And since he has retired from politics, that uniform is consigned to the closet.
Søren Pind actually thanked QMII, for the honor of being allowed to serve as minister. And again, the odd thing is that it did not sound corny, because people know that he genuinely means it.

We have lost a remarkable politician. Whether you like him or not, a politician with convictions is not that common.

And a little update: Karen Ellemann did not get the job as the party spokesman, and as such one of the most highly profiled positions in DK politics. That went to another woman. Instead she got the job as group chairman, which is roughly equivalent to being the chief whip.
 
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Today the PM has called a general election to be held on 5th June - on Constitution Day.

What happened was that the PM sought an audience with QMII and requested her approval for the government formally resigning, but staying in place as a business ministry, due to a general election to be held on the 5th June in accordance with the Constitution - that says that there cannot be more than four years between a general election. That deadline for this election was next month.
QMII has naturally formally approved the request.

And now we are in for four weeks of politics 24/7! Because we also have the EUP election.
Four weeks is actually pretty long time for a general election. Three weeks is more usual.
I fear for not only my bloodpressure and for my ears falling up but also very much for my sanity!
 
Muhler said:
Today the PM has called a general election to be held on 5th June - on Constitution Day.

What happened was that the PM sought an audience with QMII and requested her approval for the government formally resigning, but staying in place as a business ministry, due to a general election to be held on the 5th June in accordance with the Constitution - that says that there cannot be more than four years between a general election. That deadline for this election was next month.
QMII has naturally formally approved the request.

And now we are in for four weeks of politics 24/7! Because we also have the EUP election.
Four weeks is actually pretty long time for a general election. Three weeks is more usual.
I fear for not only my bloodpressure and for my ears falling up but also very much for my sanity!
Click to expand...


Couldn't the European elections and the general election be held on the same day ? Then it would be a three-week GE campaign.
 
Mbruno said:
Couldn't the European elections and the general election be held on the same day ? Then it would be a three-week GE campaign.
Click to expand...

They can and it was speculated that they would be.

But the PM has decided to separate the two elections, otherwise the EUP election would be overshadowed by the national general election. And the government coalition, especially the PM's party, have a number of EUP candidates who would very much like some media attention!
 
And now we are in for four weeks of politics 24/7! Because we also have the EUP election.
Four weeks is actually pretty long time for a general election. Three weeks is more usual.
I fear for not only my bloodpressure and for my ears falling up but also very much for my sanity![/QUOTE]

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Only 3 weeks? Here in the US, it's almost nonstop! Our current president filed for re-election on the day he was inaugurated. As for your blood pressure and sanity, I can relate! :eek: Take care.
 
:lol:;)

With 29 days to the election this is going to the be longest campaign period since 1976.
There are currently nine parties in the Parliament, thirteen parties can run for Parliament. (A new party requires a number of verified signatures from adult Danish citizens in order to be eligible for Parliament.)

The election drums have been beating over the horizon for months now, but now it's election, election, election for full throttle. Not least in regards to the party leaders, who will be here there and everywhere. Especially on TV.

One of the parties running is downright xenophobic and there is little doubt that it is openly racist as well - certainly in regards to Muslims. In that regard it follows a general trend not only in Europe, but worldwide, but that's another topic.
That party, as well as the party leader, will be covered and represented in the media on equal terms with the other parties and party leaders. And I believe that is not only wise but right.
The best way to stand up against the brown shirts is to hear what they have to say. To ask questions of them. The more they talk, the worse for them - in the long run.
I actually believe the party will end up in the Parliament after the election. (As a protest from a not insignificant segment of the population, who for various reasons have issues with immigration.) But the party will only be there for one period. Of that I'm convinced. It's a one-issue party and such parties don't live long. We've seen that before.
 
The issues during this election can be boiled down to three issues:

Retirement.
The retirement age in DK is currently among the highest, if not the highest in Europe. For me it's 68.
Someone aged 18 today can be expected to remain on the workplace until 74 (probably longer) and very understandably there is a considerable concern among many people, not least those who have or have had a physically demanding job, that they will even make it until retirement age. Not all have the option or the abilities to find a job that is less physically demanding.
So the politicians are trying to come up with all sorts of ad hoc solutions to address the problem of the many who are being worn out before retirement age.
And how do we afford to take care of those who are worn out before time?

Immigration.
The all time classic since 2000.
How do we deal with the arguably serious problems with lacking integration. How do we reduce the number of people who are difficult to integrate or difficult to employ and how do we kick out those who are criminals or idlers.
How do we attract those qualified foreigners we want and need?
Eastern Europeans are now settling in very considerable numbers in DK, with all intentions of being integrated. (The education system is major attraction, but also the informal interaction on Danish workplaces between leadership and employees is attractive.) How do we avoid these people from being hurt as a consequence of, shall we say, "motivating legislation" aimed at those who don't want to integrate?
Since the majority of the parties have a policy that is "hard on immigration" there is a lot of competition in this area!

The third issue is climate and what to do in order to make DK even more ecologically sustainable.
In short: How can DK contribute in saving the planet for our grandchildren?

All other issues are basically secondary.

The DRF and all serious talk about a republic is not even on the table.
 
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Today is Constitution Day here in DK. It is also the day we vote in the general election. - Four weeks of politics and even more politics are over.
One more week and I swear the PM would promise those voting on him to personally come to wash our kitchen floors once a week!

I have absolutely no idea of the outcome and who will be the next PM. No idea at all.
The leader of the opposition, the Social Democrat, Mette Frederik, is set to win. But her allies to left, are the kind of allies where you don't need enemies!

The current, Liberal, PM Lars Løkke might actually end up remaining in office, because the opposition can't even agree on what color red is.
On the other hand, two new parties, that may be voted in, are the kind no PM can touch with a sanitized barge-pole.

So the likely outcome is a minority center-government. Dependent on the votes of a couple of center-parties who will demand a very high and pretty unpalatable price for supporting the government. No matter whether it will be a center-left or a center-right government.

I predict it will take days before we are even sure of who will become the next PM.

Since the result is so murky, it is more than likely the current PM will go to QMII and advise her to call a Queen-round. Where each of the party-leaders in an audience with QMII will point to the person they believe should head the next government. - However, since several of them have pledged to point to themselves, that is hardly leading anywhere!
So QMII will have to appoint a Royal Investigator. That is likely to be the head of the two parties with the serious candidates for a PM, that has had the best election. Either the Liberals, the PM's party. Or IMO more likely the leader of the Social Democrats, Mette Frederiksen.
She will then start negotiations in order to see if there is a possibility for her to form a government.
In other words will there be enough votes for her, to form a working government?
Can she form a coalition government?
If she forms a minority government will there be majority of votes against her?
Will it be possible for her to form a minority government, promising to work with her opposition in enough key issues that they will not attempt to topple her?
And all that is likely to take time!
Once (most likely) Mette Frederiksen has finished negotiations, she will seek an audience with QMII informing her that
A) She is able to form a government. In which case QMII will request her to do so.
B) She is unable to form a government. In which case QMII is likely to appoint a new Royal Investigator. Most likely the acting PM, Lars Løkke, to see if he can form a government instead.
 
Queen's round...

Very interesting! So, the Monarch of Denmark is still personally involved into the process of forming a new government?


Plus this thingy with the Royal Investigator! Looks like her summer vacation isa already coming to an end.
 
Yes, QMII has a direct constitutional, albeit formal, role.

The first exit-pol is out.

The Social Democrat leader, Mette Frederiksen, is most likely to form a new government. And become the second (and no doubt way more qualified than the previous) female PM in Danish history. On paper she already has a majority in her favor - but and that is a big but - the prize demanded by at least two supporting parties may be too high.
So as I see it she is forced to work with the opposition, otherwise this will be a one period government and she personally will be politically history after the next general election.
Also, because even though the opposition seems to have won today, the Social Democrats themselves have actually gone slightly back. If she has to swallow too many political camels, the Social Democrats will face a disaster at the next general election.

The current PM is probably political history after this election. He has spoken in friendly tones about EU, so perhaps he will be shipped off to the European Parliament in five years, along with other political has-beens.
But it sure will be different to separate from his ministerial chair! He has used used very strong glue to remain sitting...

The two new and I don't hesitate to call them xenophobic parties are just on the edge of getting in. 2 % of the votes are required for a party to be represented in the Parliament. So that will be interesting.

The most dramatic result tonight is the massacre of Danish Peoples Party. It has been said, and only half jokingly, that they constituted the actual government with the government as support for most of the past nineteen years.
They have been punished by their voters for not being able to pressure the government into having an even tougher stance than they already have in regards to immigration and integration. DK has one of the toughest legislation in Europe in that regards as is.
Also, they missed one of the main topics of this general election, climate changes. They were unprepared for this.
At the same time two extreme parties went to election with even tougher stance on immigration than the Danish Peoples Party and that took away voters.
 
Update.

With a little more than 50 % of the votes counted, it is now in my estimation 90 % certain the leader of the Social Democrats, Mette Frederiksen, will be the new PM.
Or perhaps more correctly, she will be the Royal Investigator, tasked with finding the basis of a new coalition government.
It may actually very well end up with the Social Democrats forming a one party minority government, perhaps in coalition with their allies to the immediate right, Socialist Peoples Party.
The reason is that even though she almost have a total majority behind her, she will be totally dependent of a center party, the Radials, who had a great election.
The problem is that the Radicals have an economic policy that goes totally against the rest of the socialist wing and an immigration policy which goes against what a majority of the population wants. The rest of the parties of the parties on the left hate their guts!
To make it even worse the Radicals have a tendency to say: Our way or no way, and mean it!

And if they don't get their way with Mette Federiksen. I.e. making her accept and implement almost everything the Radicals want, they will have no qualms whatsoever in pointing to the (still) current PM, Lars Løkke. He has been willing to ditch everybody and everything in order to stay in power, during this election, so he is likely to accept and form a minority government with the Radicals and the Conservatives. That it may cost that government coalition dearly at the next election, that's a problem four years away. As sais before he is glued tightly to his seat!

So the outcome of this is by no means given!
 
At 11.00 the PM went to QMII to formally announce the resignation of the government. The government will continue as a business ministry until a new government takes over.

From 14.00 the various parties represented in the Parliament have in turn been to an audience with QMII. Each party will point to the person they believe should head a new government.
Most will point to the leader of the Social Democrats, Mette Frederiksen.

QMII will then appoint Mette Frederiksen as Royal Investigator, with the task of trying to form a new government.
And then the difficult negotiations will start!

---------

ADDED.

Frederik was present at the audiences today.

That is in line with the impression I have of Frederik now running the court on a day to day basis - of course still with QMII having the final say.
 
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Here is a running commentary on Twitter by the British political reporter, Lewis Goodall.
And even though he has a very enthusiastic view on how it was covered and what happened here in DK, you can filter that away and see how a typical election night is here in DK.
https://twitter.com/x/status/1136394070719455232
His political conclusions are IMO correct.

Because it is otherwise correct. The exit poll is out at 20.00.
The final results are in around midnight.
There is running coverage from all the parties, with interviews and comments, while more results come in. Interspersed with comments from political commentators, including two former PM.
The speeches to the parties by each of the party leaders is shown live and at the end all the party leaders meet for the traditional debate late in the evening.
Here they basically debate: What now?
 
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