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Danish Election 2015- How would you vote?

Who would you vote for in the Danish general election of 2015?

  • Social Liberal

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Socialist People's Party

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Liberal Alliance

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • The Alternative

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    13

SocialDemocrat

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June 18th is the election. Major parties include:

Liberal (more commonly known as Venstre): Currently the largest party in parliament, although they are not part of the incumbent government. A right-leaning liberal party, focused on trimming down the Danish welfare state, cutting taxes, austerity, and because the fill the role of Denmark's largest right-wing party, they also support policies tightening immigration restrictions.

Social Democrats: The leading party in the incumbent government, they elected the first female prime minister of Denmark back in 2011, Helle Thorning Schmidt. (She's the one who took a selfie with Barack Obama) Traditionally a social democratic party that built up the extensive Danish welfare state to what it is today, today they take a more centrist approach to governing, and have increasingly cooperated with right-wing parties, such as tax cuts for the rich. They are still quite socially liberal, exemplified when they legalized gay marriage in Denmark, and are opposed to any increase in immigration restrictions.

Danish People's Party: They are specifically focused on restricting immigration, and their influence in Danish politics has resulted in Denmark having the strictest immigration laws of any Western nation. They reject multiculturalism and Islam, and even go so far as to demand banning all non-Western immigration with the exception of refugees. Other positions include preserving the Danish monarchy, increasing criminal penalties for most crimes, legalizing hate speech, and improving living conditions for the elderly. They demand Denmark leaving the EU, and side with Serbia over Kosovo and Taiwan over China in foreign policy. They are generally viewed as the radical right of Danish politics, but hold some center-left positions on the social safety net.

Social Liberal: They are currently part of the Social Democrat's coalition government. The party portrays itself as a centrist party, but supports the left over the right in most cases. Often viewed as a party of the "urban elite," they support undoing immigration restrictions, a green tax shift which would include a carbon tax with reduced income taxes, and decentralizing educational curriculums to focus less on standardized testing.

Socialist People's Party: A creation of the new left movement of the mid to late 20th century, the party was formerly part of the government coalition with the Social Democrats, but left in protest of the government's decision to sell shares of the state-owned energy company to Goldman Sachs. The party was left divided after its decision to become part of a government coalition for the first time ever was widely viewed as a failure. The party preaches democratic socialism, feminism, and anti-austerity platform. Due to Denmark not having a green party for most of its history, the SPP has traditionally filled this role, and is strongly environmentalist. It is also divided on the issue of EU membership.

Red-Green Alliance: A democratic socialist outfit, it is the only left-wing party not in the government coalition, and is particularly opposed to the Social Democrats recent shift to the center. Party positions include abolition of tuition fees, nationalization of banks, increasing foreign aid, Danish withdrawal from both the European Union and NATO, feminism, and opposition to austerity. They are vocally opposed to both the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, but voted in favor of intervention in Libya in 2011.

Liberal Alliance: A fairly new party founded in 2007, the Liberal Alliance is a libertarian party. Unlike the other right-wing parties, the party opposes immigration restrictions. Other positions include support for a 40% flat tax, increasing foreign aid, a pro-EU foreign policy, and reducing public spending. It is the only party in support of nuclear power.

Conservative People's Party: Formerly the largest right-wing party in Denmark, it is a shell of its former self and has been on a slow decline for decades. The party is more socially conservative than Venstre, despite the fact that their current leader is gay (although gay rights are largely accepted in Denmark). They generally support austerity, lower taxes, and general right-wing economic policies.

Parties outside Parliament:

The Alternative: Founded in 2013, it is contesting its first general election. The party generally adheres to green values of sustainability, environmentalism, and internationalism, although it also emphasizes entrepreneurship and support for small business.

Christian Democrat: They came up short of winning seats in 2011, and it's questionable whether or not they will now. Generally the most socially conservative, they are the only explicitly pro-life party, and are opposed to pornography and support decentralization of government services to local areas.
 
I'd need more information to make a real decision if I actually lived there, but based on your descriptions, the Social Democrats sound like the most similar to my way of thinking, though I might also consider Venstre and the Liberal Alliance based on your descriptions.
 
I know almost nothing about the politics of Denmark, would not even begin to look at it using US political terms.
 
I vote for the one that agrees to balance the budget every year no matter what (except for a major, declared war on another country).

I assume that is none of the above...so I would vote for none of the above.
 
I ran out of space in the original post, but I would probably support the Red-Green Alliance. I would have voted SPP in 2011 without hindsight, but they've shown that when in government, they're not really effective at accomplishing their goals, and can't be a strong political force when they're so bitterly divided, even though they're probably closer to me politically than the Red-Greens, who are a bit too radical for my taste.

I know almost nothing about the politics of Denmark, would not even begin to look at it using US political terms.

The only difference in terminology between Danish and U.S. politics is the use of the term liberal, which like in most European countries refers more to free-market liberalism as opposed to left liberalism. Other than that, the only difference here is that I'm writing in English, not Danish. :p

Like those before me, i wouldn't vote for the options above. I don't vote for parties, I vote for people.

That isn't really an option in countries with a parliamentary system elected by proportional representation. Like it or not, citizens of Denmark are forced to vote for parties instead of individuals.

I vote for the one that agrees to balance the budget every year no matter what (except for a major, declared war on another country).

I assume that is none of the above...so I would vote for none of the above.

When the Liberals/Venstre were in power in 2011 (before the election), they promised to balance the budget by 2020 by cutting pensions. Not sure if that changes anything for you. You may have been interested in the Progress Party before they stopped contesting elections. Their platform included a repeal of 90% of all legislation, and with exception of an anti-Islamic immigration stance, they were essentially a more "purist" libertarian group than the Liberal Alliance.
 
The only difference in terminology between Danish and U.S. politics is the use of the term liberal, which like in most European countries refers more to free-market liberalism as opposed to left liberalism. Other than that, the only difference here is that I'm writing in English, not Danish. :p



That isn't really an option in countries with a parliamentary system elected by proportional representation. Like it or not, citizens of Denmark are forced to vote for parties instead of individuals.

I honestly did not know that. So they vote party, then the party picks people to fill in the seats?
 
I honestly did not know that. So they vote party, then the party picks people to fill in the seats?

Well in proportional party-list system yes. Usually the leader of the party takes the first spot and then the cabinet and other prominent members of the party. It solves the problem of a party leader or other prominent members of a party losing their seats.
 
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I vote for the one that agrees to balance the budget every year no matter what (except for a major, declared war on another country).

I assume that is none of the above...so I would vote for none of the above.

They all do that.. soo...
 
Well in proportional party-list system yes. Usually the leader of the party takes the first spot and then the cabinet and other prominent members of the party. It solves the problem of a party leader or other prominent members of a party losing their seats.

Wrong. You can vote either for the party and then your vote goes to the person the party decides, usually the nr 1 on the list, till that person is voted and then it goes to the next one and so on. Or you vote personally, but setting an X by a candidates name and then your vote goes to that person.
 
I'd vote for the hottest blond. :mrgreen:
 
Hamlet, if he's running. Gives one hell of a speech.
 
The only difference in terminology between Danish and U.S. politics is the use of the term liberal, which like in most European countries refers more to free-market liberalism as opposed to left liberalism. Other than that, the only difference here is that I'm writing in English, not Danish. :p

No. The term liberal in Denmark and the rest of the planet minus the US, is the true meaning of the word, not the twisted version that Americans are use too.

That isn't really an option in countries with a parliamentary system elected by proportional representation. Like it or not, citizens of Denmark are forced to vote for parties instead of individuals.

Wrong, see my other post on this subject.

When the Liberals/Venstre were in power in 2011 (before the election), they promised to balance the budget by 2020 by cutting pensions. Not sure if that changes anything for you.

All parties want to balance the budget, even the radical left. Denmark in normal economic times has always run near a balanced budget.. it is a principle of Danish politics.

You may have been interested in the Progress Party before they stopped contesting elections. Their platform included a repeal of 90% of all legislation, and with exception of an anti-Islamic immigration stance, they were essentially a more "purist" libertarian group than the Liberal Alliance.

Liberal Alliance are Conservatives who fled from the Conservative platform because of scandal and links to Bush.

The Progress Party still exists, it is just called The Peoples Party. There was a rift back in the day between the bat crazy far right founder and the more common sense members, and they split into the Peoples Party. Now the Peoples Party is not much different than the Progress Party, they are just not as openly racist and anti Muslim.. They are a disgrace to Denmark and sadly will most likely be the 3rd largest party after the election.
 
No. The term liberal in Denmark and the rest of the planet minus the US, is the true meaning of the word, not the twisted version that Americans are use too.

Hong Kong, and South Korea are two political systems I think of off the top of my head where liberalism is associated with the left.

Wrong, see my other post on this subject.

Thanks for the info, I didn't know Denmark had that option.

All parties want to balance the budget, even the radical left. Denmark in normal economic times has always run near a balanced budget.. it is a principle of Danish politics.

Well you're obviously more knowledgeable about Danish politics than I am, but is there something incorrect about the article I posted? If Denmark maintains a balanced budget every year, why did Venstre propose a plan to balance the budget by 2020?

Liberal Alliance are Conservatives who fled from the Conservative platform because of scandal and links to Bush.

There are some ideological differences too, no? I was under the impression that the Conservative People's Party had a slightly more socially conservative lean.

The Progress Party still exists, it is just called The Peoples Party. There was a rift back in the day between the bat crazy far right founder and the more common sense members, and they split into the Peoples Party. Now the Peoples Party is not much different than the Progress Party, they are just not as openly racist and anti Muslim.. They are a disgrace to Denmark and sadly will most likely be the 3rd largest party after the election.

I'm aware that Progress and the Danish People's Party are both filled with xenophobic scumbags (and that DPP split from Progress), but there is a difference in their economic policy. The DPP is generally supportive of the social safety net's existence, while Progress essentially wants to get rid of all aspects of government with the exception of immigration controls and a few other things, which is why I suggested them to DA60, who seems to be into that kind of thing.
 
Well in proportional party-list system yes. Usually the leader of the party takes the first spot and then the cabinet and other prominent members of the party. It solves the problem of a party leader or other prominent members of a party losing their seats.

In the Netherlands every party files a list of candidates with the election authority. The positions on the list are decided by the parties itself. For example, the party who won the last election will be list number 1, their party leader will be number 1 on that list and the rest of the candidates take the rest of the places on the list. Normally every party has so many prospective members that a good deal will not be elected because normally you can vote for each candidate. If that candidate has so many votes that she qualifies for a place in parliament, then someone else of the party will not be allowed in our version of the house of representatives.

Say party 1 has won 20 seats, then if no-one has enough preferential votes to win their seat outright, the party leader and the 19 people who are on the list on place 2 through 20 will have won a seat. But if say number 23 on the list is so popular that he/she has enough preferential votes to win a seat, then the last one on the list to normally get a seat will lose out because the party has a maximum of 20 seats to fill.

But if this party becomes part of the coalition government then 1 or more will become members of government, they will then no longer be part of the house of representatives because you cannot be both in government and a MP. So they will vacate their seats and say 8 MP's of that party will become part of the government, then their seats will be filled by the numbers 20 to 27 on their original list.

A lot of political parties have list-pushers, purely put on the list of electable figures to incite people to vote for them (like former party leaders, musicians, actors, writers, etc.) to push the vote for their party but those people will never win enough (and do not really want to be) sitting in parliament.

And every party constructs it's list of candidates in the same way.
 
Hong Kong, and South Korea are two political systems I think of off the top of my head where liberalism is associated with the left.

Are you sure?

Well you're obviously more knowledgeable about Danish politics than I am, but is there something incorrect about the article I posted? If Denmark maintains a balanced budget every year, why did Venstre propose a plan to balance the budget by 2020?

Its called a global economic crisis. And I did not say that we had a balanced budget, but that we aspired to one each year. It is impossible to do in practice without Texas style voodoo accounting and a sugar daddy.

There are some ideological differences too, no? I was under the impression that the Conservative People's Party had a slightly more socially conservative lean.

Well lets put it this way. The Conservatives are the old farts club and the Liberal Alliance is a younger more hip crowd who are ashamed of their parents. The differences in policy on the right with the exception of the Peoples Party racists, is very small.

I'm aware that Progress and the Danish People's Party are both filled with xenophobic scumbags (and that DPP split from Progress), but there is a difference in their economic policy. The DPP is generally supportive of the social safety net's existence, while Progress essentially wants to get rid of all aspects of government with the exception of immigration controls and a few other things, which is why I suggested them to DA60, who seems to be into that kind of thing.

Wait what, they have an economic policy all of a sudden? Since when! Their policy is Dane for Danes, out of the EU, Muslims, coloureds (even the Danish ones) and foreigners out and everything that is wrong in society is the foreigners fault or the EU. They are the original Tea Party and UKIP and Front National. The funny thing is the party started out as an anti-Tax (tea party) party and was extremely popular in the 1970s. Its founder got sent to jail for tax evasion.. he paid 0% in taxes. He is also famous for sending in his tax returns on toilet paper, because the law at the time did not stipulate how it was to be presented. The he got crazy and started to blame Muslims for everything.
 
Are you sure?

Well in Hong Kong, the left is the pro-democracy camp, and the right is the pro-Beijing camp, which basically defends the fake communism that China has now. So in order to distance themselves from the pro-Beijing camp, they choose to preach liberalism instead of socialism. According to wiki, the Democrats, the largest pro-democracy party, "Advocates economic policies pretty close to "liberalism" in the sense of John Rawls (rather than, say, of Robert Nozick or Friedrich Hayek, as commonly accepted outside North America)". There are some smaller pro-democracy social democratic parties, but the Democrats are by far the largest pro-democracy group.

South Korea is sort of going through its own red scare right now, which is somewhat understandable when you consider who its neighbor to the North is. The Unified Progressive Party, which was the third largest party in South Korea, was banned for having allegedly pro-North Korea views. They didn't have a remotely pro-North Korea position IMO (but some people may disagree on what a pro-North Korea position is), and were vocal opponents of their human rights record and use of nuclear weapons, but they advocated ending a military alliance with the United States in favor of a peaceful path to reunification under a South Korean government. Although they were the most left-wing, and would probably call themselves socialists under any other party system, they shied away from the term and they, and their successors, call themselves progressives. But with the Unified Progressives banned, the major left-leaning party is the New Politics Alliance, which call themselves liberals and are to the left of the governing Saenuri Party, which is the dominant right-wing party.

In addition to their proximity to faux-communist countries, another reason for liberalism dominating the left in Asia is that being part of the Pacific Rim, East Asian democracies are increasingly influenced by American schools of thought, probably more so than many other countries.

Its called a global economic crisis. And I did not say that we had a balanced budget, but that we aspired to one each year. It is impossible to do in practice without Texas style voodoo accounting and a sugar daddy.

Well lets put it this way. The Conservatives are the old farts club and the Liberal Alliance is a younger more hip crowd who are ashamed of their parents. The differences in policy on the right with the exception of the Peoples Party racists, is very small.

Wait what, they have an economic policy all of a sudden? Since when! Their policy is Dane for Danes, out of the EU, Muslims, coloureds (even the Danish ones) and foreigners out and everything that is wrong in society is the foreigners fault or the EU. They are the original Tea Party and UKIP and Front National. The funny thing is the party started out as an anti-Tax (tea party) party and was extremely popular in the 1970s. Its founder got sent to jail for tax evasion.. he paid 0% in taxes. He is also famous for sending in his tax returns on toilet paper, because the law at the time did not stipulate how it was to be presented. The he got crazy and started to blame Muslims for everything.

Thanks for answering my questions. :)
 
I read some time ago that the Danish peoples party were set to become the biggest party after the elections. I wonder if this will mean that while everyone talks about Greece or the United Kingdom leaving the EU , Denmark will beat everyone to it (or indeed France)
 
I read some time ago that the Danish peoples party were set to become the biggest party after the elections.

No that is the Social Democrats. They might (god I hope not) become the biggest party on the right... still 49% of the votes to be counted and the gab is getting smaller.

I wonder if this will mean that while everyone talks about Greece or the United Kingdom leaving the EU , Denmark will beat everyone to it (or indeed France)

Well lets see. I am ashamed of my country that so many people have voted for those nationalist racist pigs, but just because they become the largest party on the right does not mean that the people on the right will work with them. There is a lot of political angling going on tonight and tomorrow. Lets put it this way, no one on the left want the Peoples Party in government and the right side parties are not exactly thrilled either.

And the reality here is that many of the new votes going to the Peoples Party are more likely protest votes against the Ventres (The Liberal Party) leader and former Prime Minster. He is an ass, a drunk and frankly he and his cronies have ruined the party. We shall see.
 
No that is the Social Democrats. They might (god I hope not) become the biggest party on the right... still 49% of the votes to be counted and the gab is getting smaller.



Well lets see. I am ashamed of my country that so many people have voted for those nationalist racist pigs, but just because they become the largest party on the right does not mean that the people on the right will work with them. There is a lot of political angling going on tonight and tomorrow. Lets put it this way, no one on the left want the Peoples Party in government and the right side parties are not exactly thrilled either.

And the reality here is that many of the new votes going to the Peoples Party are more likely protest votes against the Ventres (The Liberal Party) leader and former Prime Minster. He is an ass, a drunk and frankly he and his cronies have ruined the party. We shall see.

Sounds like something is rotten in Denmark....
 
No that is the Social Democrats. They might (god I hope not) become the biggest party on the right... still 49% of the votes to be counted and the gab is getting smaller.



Well lets see. I am ashamed of my country that so many people have voted for those nationalist racist pigs, but just because they become the largest party on the right does not mean that the people on the right will work with them. There is a lot of political angling going on tonight and tomorrow. Lets put it this way, no one on the left want the Peoples Party in government and the right side parties are not exactly thrilled either.

And the reality here is that many of the new votes going to the Peoples Party are more likely protest votes against the Ventres (The Liberal Party) leader and former Prime Minster. He is an ass, a drunk and frankly he and his cronies have ruined the party. We shall see.

What's the possibility of Venstre and the Social Democrats working together to prevent the DPP from being apart of government?
 
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