Danish Election.
Denmark is electing a new Parliament today. The right-wing government of the Liberals and Conservatives thought they could maintain their parliamentary majority in an election held now and called the election only 2 1/2 years into the election period.
I am sad to say their confidence is well founded. The opinion polls indicate a close election, which is usual in denmark, but the government and its supporting party, the far right Danish People's Party, are leading in most opinion polls.
The New Alliance, a new neo-liberal breakaway party from the Social-Liberal Party, have dominated the media coverage of the campaign. Media attention is however only positive if you have a strong political narrative, which New Alliance doesn't have. Their representation in parliament looks set to be 4 or 5 seats.
The largest increase in parliamentary seats looks likely to go to the Socialist People's Party, who according to the polls will double their representation from 11 to 22 MP's. Unfortunately this increase is unlikely to give the left an overall majority and we can look forward to another 4 (or 2 1/2) years of Liberal/Conservative government.
The first exist poll is due in 8 minutes!
posted by Torsten Pedersen @ Tuesday, November 13, 2007
2 comments
2 Comments:
I'm just curious what conservative means in Denmark.... I know that the word has different connotations everywhere. I was once amused to hear one of my co-workers ask if Rush Limbaugh was so conservative why did he play such rocking music at the beginning of his show. I tried to explain that are different kinds of conservatives. A political conservative and a Christian or Adventist conservative were just a little different. The political conservative might just like rock music and it didn't make them liberal.
However, that is almost how I feel when it comes to world politics, meaning I'm pretty clueless.
In Denmark the term conservative has, politically speaking, a similar meaning as in the US (as least as I understand it). Conservatives generally advocate the free market economy, individual responsibility, law and order etc. Political liberalism is, however, a different concept in Denmark. Liberals first and foremost believe in free markets (and are more radical in this respect than conservatives).
The Liberals and Conservatives therefore constitute the political right in Denmark (and I have very a hard time distinguishing the two parties). The Social Liberals and Social Democrats constitute the center left in Danish politics and have much in common with the Democratic Party in the US. The left consist of two socialist parties (The Socialist People's Party and Unity Party).
But your absolutely right, conservative means so many things in so many contexts.
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