Denmark's First Female Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt

Denmark has elected its first female prime minister. Helle Thorning-Schmidt, 44, won a narrow victory against her far-right opponent and the slim majority left-center ‘Red Bloc’ is expected to loosen strict reforms enacted in 10 years of far-right majority rule.

Not at stake is the Danish acceptance of strong social welfare through high taxes. The parliamentary party differences lie in the protection and implementation of financing the system during uncertain global economic times.

The Guardian UK reports, “Analysts said that in a society that prizes consensus, major changes in key policy areas were unlikely. But with economic stagnation and a rising budget deficit dominating the campaign, the outgoing government promised spending cuts while Thorning-Schmidt argued for more investment in education, welfare, and infrastructure.

Given the austerity policies favoured across Europe by the dominant centre-right as the response to the lack of growth, Denmark will be watched to see whether the new government will take a different approach and succeed.”

Thorning-Schmidt proposes raising taxes for Denmark’s banks and wealthiest citizens and extending the work day by 12 minutes to pay for the $4-billion social initiatives expansion. Previous financial reforms include a gradual raise of the retirement age from 65 to 67 years and trimming benefit periods for early retirement and unemployment beneficiaries.

The opposition claims higher taxes will harm the competitiveness of this nation of  roughly 5.5 million people which already has one of the most generous welfare systems in Europe and highest tax rate as well.

Economic concern in Denmark was the main election debate but the possibility of reform in immigration law was another strong opposition for the social democrat.

Denmark is a part of the Schengen Area – 25 European countries that allow travel without internal border controls for free movement of not only people but goods. Opposition parties desire Denmark to withdraw from the group and have been instrumental in strengthening and enforcing strict entry into the country.

Thorning-Schmidt has said she will not make changes in immigration laws reformed by previous parliamentary majority which is aimed mostly toward asylum seekers (around 200,000 Muslims are now living in Denmark making them the largest non-Christian population in the country) but she has pledged to address the strict customs controls with Germany and Sweden which some claim are a violation of the European Union agreement.

Thorning-Schmidt told supporters, “We’ve written history today.” 

From another Guardian article: “A British audience can take away a number of lessons from the Danish election: a Kinnock, albeit a Kinnock by marriage, can win elections; difficult coalitions are not the end of the world – Denmark has survived far worse than what this election has produced and remained hugely successful on a wide range of measures; and having too many televised debates can be tiresome and tends to obscure rather than clarify political positions. Thorning-Schmidt will certainly have made history by becoming Denmark’s first female prime minister, but whether she will be remembered for anything else positive will depend to a very large extent on her ability to keep a diverse coalition together in the face of an emboldened left and a resentful right. Her father-in-law lived through interesting times, and it looks likely that so will Denmark’s new prime minister.”

Sound familiar? We are seeing similar debates on varying levels in so many countries across the world struggling with stagnating economies and entrenched politics. It will indeed be interesting to watch Denmark closely. Congratulations to Helle Thorning-Schmidt. Our best AOC wishes for positive forward movement in the global perspective. Lisa