The General Election September 15, 2011

Political Culture and National IdentityNegotiations, Dialogue, Compromise, Consensus

”Denmark is not a Nation - Denmark is a Tribe”

Sir James Mellon, former British ambassador to Denmark

Basis and background

The Political System

ParliamentarismProportional RepresentationMulti-Party SystemMinority Governments

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Parliamentarism vs. Presidentialism

Parliamentarism:

Government comes from Parliament and rely on its support – dialogue and compromise

Presidentialism:

Both President and Parliament/Congress are elected by the people – competition and conflict

The Constitutional FrameworkOne Chamber Parliament:

”Folketinget” – 179 members – 4 years termNegative Parliamentarism:

A government can stay in power as long as there is not a majority against

Power of the Prime Minister:Can dissolve the Parliament and call for a general

election, whenever he wantsThe special status of The Faroe Islands and Greenland

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The Electoral SystemProportional Representation:

175 seats in Denmark + 2 from The Faroe Islands and 2 from Greenland

2 pct. treshold to be representedTurn-out – about 85-89 pct.Voting age:

All Danish citizens of 18 years or more, automatically registred on CPR-No.

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How does it work?The Main Principles of the Danish System of

Proportional Representation:A proportional distribution af seats on the national

level among political parties which have passed the treshold of 2 percent of the total numer of votes

A part of the seats are regionally or locally fixed according to the number of inhabitants of the different regions

You can vote on the candidate or the party

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Danish Political PartiesThe Traditional Left-Right Dimension

LA EL SF SD RV V KF DF

_._______.__.____._____.__.___.__._Left Center Right

Other Dimensions?

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Danish General ElectionSeptember 15, 2011

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General Election September 15, 2011 Venstre (Liberals), 47 (+ 1) Konservative Folkeparti (Conservatives), 8 (–10) Dansk Folkeparti (Danish People’s Party), 22 (-3) Liberal Alliance (Liberal Alliance), 9 (+4)

Socialdemokraterne (Social Democrats), 44 (-1) SF (Socialist People’s Party), 16 (-7) Radikale Venstre (Social Liberals), 17 (+8) Enhedslisten (Red-Green Alliance), 12 (+8)

Faroe Islands and Greenland, 2 + 2 Red: 3Blue: 1

Turn-out: 87,7% - highest in 27 years

Red:S, SF, RV, EL: 89

+3 North Atlantic92

Blue:V, KF, DF, LA: 86

+1 North Atlantic87

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The New Government?

New Prime Minister:Helle Thorning-Schmidt (SD)

S-SF: 60S-SF-RV: 77

So what?

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So what?The day after the election - Friday, September 16, 2011, at

11:00 am:- Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen (V) hands in the resignation of the VK-government to the Queen- Caretaker-Government until a new government is formed

All parties are called to the Queen to say who they wants to lead the negotiation for forming a new government.- a majority for Helle Thorning-Schmidt

Helle Thorning-Schmidt is called to the Queen and is asked to start negotiation for forming a new government

Helle Thorning-Schmidt starts negotiations with all parties- then just the ”red block”, and finally only S-SF and RV

Main question: Will RV (the Social Liberals) join the government?

Political platform/program?13

New GovernmentNegotiations goes on (about 2 weeks)New governmentpresented – by the end of this week?S-SF – and probably RV

- alternative?

Opening of new session in Parliament:October 4, 2011

Parliamentary situation and the ”life” of the new government?- The Role of The Red-Green Allaince (EL) –and how to find a majority?

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The Parliamentary SituationVenstre 47Konservative Folkeparti (Conservatives) 8Dansk Folkeparti (Danish People’s Party) 22Liberal Alliance 9North Atlantic 1

Socialdemokraterne (Social Democrats) 44SF (Socialist People’s Party) 16Radikale Venstre (Social Liberals) 17Enhedslisten (Red-Green Alliance) 12North Atlantic 3