Se billedet: Grev Ingolf besøgte generalforsamling i Dansk Folkeparti
This is interesting.
On 31st March the local chapter of the party Danish People's Party held a general assembly in the town of Kolding.
As a nationalist party the Danish People's Party compete with the Conservatives about upholding and guarding nationalist symbols. That means supporting the local division of the Denmark Society, which was formed in 1908 and aim at upholding national and cultural traditions and symbols. They were to have a new colour and since that event was hosted by the Danish People's Party their local chairman asked Count Ingolf and asked if he would inaugurate the colour and he accepted. Countess Sussie was naturally also invited.
Perhaps not surprisingly because it's usually Count Ingolf and Countess Sussie who inaugurate colours for the society. And the society is very strong in Southern Jutland, the area south of Kolding being part of Germany for some 60 years after the Second Schleswigan War.
Gunnar Nielsen the local chairman explains: "I send them a nice letter right after New year and asked politely whether they would attend. And I was actually taken aback that they said yes. But they are very active in the local life".
Count Ingolf lives in south-eastern Jutland.
Q: What did you write?
GN: "It was I believe something about Your Excellencies, but apart from that they are very down to earth and very nice".
That even extended members of the DRF go anywhere near a political meeting is very rare and as such Count Ingolf's presence must be considered something of a coup!
Gunnar Nielsen is indeed anything but sad: "I have never heard about them attending at other parties before either. But they were here about half an hour. We sang a song and then the event started. Count Ingolf struck in the first nail of the colour, the local chairman of the Danmark Society the next nail and as chairman (for the hosting party) and celebrating my 19th anniversary was allowed to strike in the third nail. Then Count Ingolf gave the speech. There are after all very particular rituals that must be adhered to".
Q: How about Countess Sussie?
GN: "She was I believe driver. We received her nicely and had bought flowers for her. But she seemed more to tag along".
After the ceremony was over, Count InGolf and Countess Sussie left and then the general assembly of the Danish People's Party formally started.
BT has asked a Sebastian Olden-Jørgensen from Copenhagen University: "It's balancing act, but Count Ingolf is parked so far out in the system with title as count that he has more freedom to maneuver. Had it been Prince Joachim, then he would have had to watch out. But we are out at a local level and then a participation in such an event is also a signal that it is so far away that you do as you like".
Count Ingolf has in his usual informal way declined to comment.
- Well, this will of course be noticed, even if it doesn't involve the core members of the DRF and even if Count Ingolf was not present at the party-event.
However, Danish People's Party is very strong in that part of the country and does not have the stigma there than in the inner cities of Copenhagen and Aarhus and indeed the distance from the inner cities of Copenhagen and Aarhus to many parts of the country, not least Southern Jutland is very, very long! And increasing.
The Danish People's Party is now the second largest party in DK, with some 20 % of the voters and even though it is often labelled as a far right party, they are really right-wing social democrats with a nationalist and xenophobic streak.
The Conservative, who can trace their origins to the first political parties at the first democratic constitution of 1849, is now on the brink of being voted out of the Parliament and they may not survive the next general election.
