Denmark's Record-Breaking Government Formation Becomes an Unconventional Focus at Copenhagen Democracy Summit
After Denmark's general election in March, the time to form a government has exceeded 42 days, breaking a Danish political record. The failure to form a government has led to policy uncertainty in future foreign and domestic affairs, with significant impacts, becoming an alternative focus at the Copenhagen Democracy Summit.
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Central News Agency, Stockholm, Reporter Ku Yong-li, 16th (CNA) - After the general election on March 24, Denmark's government formation period has exceeded 42 days, breaking a record in Danish political history. The failure to form a government has created policy uncertainty for future foreign and domestic work, with far-reaching impacts, becoming an unconventional focus at the Copenhagen Democracy Summit.
Every year, the Copenhagen Democracy Summit invites the incumbent Danish Prime Minister to attend, and this year's summit on the 12th was no exception. However, this year, Mette Frederiksen attended in her capacity as "Acting Prime Minister."
The chairman of the organizing body, the Alliance of Democracies, and former Danish Prime Minister from the Moderate Party, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, joked during a conversation with Frederiksen, "Welcome, Prime Minister, but you are actually the Acting Prime Minister." Frederiksen retorted, "And whose party is to thank for that?" which drew laughter and applause from the entire audience.
The prolonged absence of a new government in Denmark has also troubled Greenland's Prime Minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen. In an interview at the democracy summit, he stated that a Denmark without a new government complicates the trilateral working group negotiations with the United States. After all, when dealing with foreign affairs and defense, Greenland must cooperate with the Kingdom of Denmark. He hopes Denmark will complete its government formation as soon as possible, but he believes there is considerable consensus among Danish parties on the Greenland issue.
Besides the public attention, the failure to form a government also has an impact behind the scenes. An anonymous Danish non-profit organization worker told the Central News Agency that the new government's immigration and foreign aid policies will have a great impact on his work. He certainly hopes a new government can be formed as soon as possible to provide a clearer direction for his work.
The failure to form a government also affects Taiwan. At the summit venue, Representative to Denmark, Cheng Jung-chun, told the Central News Agency that although Taiwan has already taken initial countermeasures against Denmark's incorrect registration of Taiwanese nationality by canceling some privileges for Danish diplomatic personnel in Taiwan, related negotiations can only begin after the new Danish government is in place and the foreign minister is confirmed.
Although there are 12 parties in the Danish parliament with different positions on domestic affairs, they can present a united front when facing national threats. As Rasmussen said in the summit dialogue, although he and Frederiksen have different political ideas, on security issues, foreign policy issues, and defense issues, Frederiksen has never done or said anything he disagreed with.
The task of forming a government has now fallen to the leader of the Venstre party, Troels Lund Poulsen. He hopes to complete the task within two weeks, but the Danish media is not optimistic, predicting a low probability of success. Frederiksen may resume the task of forming a government. The Danish Broadcasting Corporation (DR) analyzed that even if he succeeds in forming a broader center-right government, it is hard to imagine that Frederiksen, who has the most votes and has served two terms as prime minister, would not continue in that role.
Lars Løkke Rasmussen, who holds the key minority in parliament and whose withdrawal from party negotiations caused Frederiksen to give up forming a government, was strongly criticized in an article by Christian Jensen, the editor-in-chief of Denmark's largest newspaper, Politiken. Jensen accused him of sabotaging party negotiations and holding the entire country hostage for his own personal ambition of becoming prime minister.
Coalition governments of multiple parties are common in Nordic parliaments, traditionally divided into left-wing and right-wing blocs. However, in recent years, due to disagreements on economic and immigration policies, coupled with the rise of far-right parties and changes in the global situation, the political spectrum of ruling blocs has become broader than the traditional definition, and the matters requiring coordination have become more complex. For example, after the 2018 general election in Sweden, it took 134 days to form a government.
After Denmark's 2022 general election, it took 42 days to form a government. Frederiksen's left-wing Social Democratic Party, for the first time since its founding in 1871, formed a "broad centrist" government with a right-wing party.
At the end of the summit dialogue, Rasmussen comforted Frederiksen, noting that it took Belgium 541 days after its 2010 election and the Netherlands 299 days to form a government. "You still have time." (Editor: Chen Cheng-kung) 1150516
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Every year, the Copenhagen Democracy Summit invites the incumbent Danish Prime Minister to attend, and this year's summit on the 12th was no exception. However, this year, Mette Frederiksen attended in her capacity as "Acting Prime Minister."
The chairman of the organizing body, the Alliance of Democracies, and former Danish Prime Minister from the Moderate Party, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, joked during a conversation with Frederiksen, "Welcome, Prime Minister, but you are actually the Acting Prime Minister." Frederiksen retorted, "And whose party is to thank for that?" which drew laughter and applause from the entire audience.
The prolonged absence of a new government in Denmark has also troubled Greenland's Prime Minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen. In an interview at the democracy summit, he stated that a Denmark without a new government complicates the trilateral working group negotiations with the United States. After all, when dealing with foreign affairs and defense, Greenland must cooperate with the Kingdom of Denmark. He hopes Denmark will complete its government formation as soon as possible, but he believes there is considerable consensus among Danish parties on the Greenland issue.
Besides the public attention, the failure to form a government also has an impact behind the scenes. An anonymous Danish non-profit organization worker told the Central News Agency that the new government's immigration and foreign aid policies will have a great impact on his work. He certainly hopes a new government can be formed as soon as possible to provide a clearer direction for his work.
The failure to form a government also affects Taiwan. At the summit venue, Representative to Denmark, Cheng Jung-chun, told the Central News Agency that although Taiwan has already taken initial countermeasures against Denmark's incorrect registration of Taiwanese nationality by canceling some privileges for Danish diplomatic personnel in Taiwan, related negotiations can only begin after the new Danish government is in place and the foreign minister is confirmed.
Although there are 12 parties in the Danish parliament with different positions on domestic affairs, they can present a united front when facing national threats. As Rasmussen said in the summit dialogue, although he and Frederiksen have different political ideas, on security issues, foreign policy issues, and defense issues, Frederiksen has never done or said anything he disagreed with.
The task of forming a government has now fallen to the leader of the Venstre party, Troels Lund Poulsen. He hopes to complete the task within two weeks, but the Danish media is not optimistic, predicting a low probability of success. Frederiksen may resume the task of forming a government. The Danish Broadcasting Corporation (DR) analyzed that even if he succeeds in forming a broader center-right government, it is hard to imagine that Frederiksen, who has the most votes and has served two terms as prime minister, would not continue in that role.
Lars Løkke Rasmussen, who holds the key minority in parliament and whose withdrawal from party negotiations caused Frederiksen to give up forming a government, was strongly criticized in an article by Christian Jensen, the editor-in-chief of Denmark's largest newspaper, Politiken. Jensen accused him of sabotaging party negotiations and holding the entire country hostage for his own personal ambition of becoming prime minister.
Coalition governments of multiple parties are common in Nordic parliaments, traditionally divided into left-wing and right-wing blocs. However, in recent years, due to disagreements on economic and immigration policies, coupled with the rise of far-right parties and changes in the global situation, the political spectrum of ruling blocs has become broader than the traditional definition, and the matters requiring coordination have become more complex. For example, after the 2018 general election in Sweden, it took 134 days to form a government.
After Denmark's 2022 general election, it took 42 days to form a government. Frederiksen's left-wing Social Democratic Party, for the first time since its founding in 1871, formed a "broad centrist" government with a right-wing party.
At the end of the summit dialogue, Rasmussen comforted Frederiksen, noting that it took Belgium 541 days after its 2010 election and the Netherlands 299 days to form a government. "You still have time." (Editor: Chen Cheng-kung) 1150516
Stand with the facts. Your every sponsorship is a force for protecting the freedom of the press.
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The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or used without authorization.