While you were away – a brief summary of the Christmas/New Year news:
Politics/Economy:
The Social Democrats were given a Christmas boost by a new opinion poll showing the party would win 31.1% of the vote, and power, if an election was held today – policy spokesman Nicolai Wammen said the figures show many voters want a new government headed by Mette Frederiksen, ‘one that looks after our welfare society instead of offering historically-high tax relief.’
Danish People’s Party leader Kristian Thulesen Dahl blamed Finance Minister Kristian Jensen for the government’s failure to reach agreement with the DPP on tax and immigration reform.
A new Megafon poll for Politiken showed Liberal Alliance leader Anders Samuelsen’s credibility has taken a severe hit following his embarrassing budget climb-down – only 7% of the electorate see Mr Samuelsen as a ‘credible’ party leader, compared to 21% six months ago. The survey was conducted between December 20th-21st, shortly after LA dropped its threat not to vote for the 2018 budget unless the Danish People’s Party (DPP) supported the government’s tax reform proposal.
Employment Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said lawmakers need to address the problem of a growing labour shortage that’s creating a headache for companies who ‘could be forced to refuse orders and consider the possibility of expanding their business outside Denmark.’
Ahead of upcoming cross party negotiations for a new media bill the ruling Liberals proposed cutting DKK400m in licence money from state-run broadcaster DR and handing the money to private production companies.
A new report suggested Danish households are missing out on hundreds of billions of kroner because they keep their savings in bank accounts where they collect little or no interest thanks to negative central bank rates.
EU/Foreign Affairs:
Foreign Minister Anders Samuelsen halted aid funding to 14 Palestinian organisations with alleged links to terrorism – the decision was made following an internal ministry investigation ordered by Mr Samuelsen at the urging of Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.
The government promised to review wedding rules following a report showing the number of foreign couples coming to Denmark as ‘wedding tourists’ has risen dramatically, raising concern about pro-forma marriages that provide a ‘back door’ to residency in the EU.
Social Affairs:
Copenhagen City Hall politician Tommy Petersen said priests who refuse to perform wedding ceremonies for gay couples should be kicked out of church, in response to a new survey showing 20% of Denmark’s 876 registered priests have declined to wed homosexuals.
A 30-year-old Syrian living in Sweden was ordered held in pre-trial custody ahead of Christmas on suspicion of attempting to take part in an attack in Copenhagen last year – he was jailed until at least Jan. 15.
A drug dealer spent Christmas Eve in custody after getting into a police car carrying a large amount of cannabis – according to the police he mistook the police car for a taxi.
To read all the above articles in full see: http://seven59.dk/archive (subscription required)
Business:
Pre-Christmas sales hit a record high, a sign according to economists that consumers have shed their ‘crisis mentality’ as Dankort turnover increased by DKK1.7bn.
The U.S state of New Jersey divested all its investments in Denmark’s biggest bank, Danske, due to its boycott of Israeli companies – ahead of Christmas the Bank accepted a DKK12.5m fine for money laundering.
The head of Group Human Resources at Nordea Denmark, Scandinavia’s biggest bank, created a controversy by claiming she has been inspired by Adolf Hitler.
And that was a brief catch-up of the Christmas and New Year news, 2017: To read all the above articles in full see: http://seven59.dk/archive (subscription required)