A dark day for Denmark - the 20 november 2001

[Winston]

Nazis, Schmazis. They're ludicrous.

If you want to mention the extremists we have that are actually causing problems to decent people and our democracy, you could write an entire essay about the "autonomous" radical left that require hundreds of policemen to keep in check just for a general election or a referendum. And they're quite violent to boot.

You seem a bit over-exited about an alleged extremist right wing ghost that we simply don't have in Denmark. Or do you have information I don't?

[Thue]

Originally posted by Winston
You seem a bit over-exited about an alleged extremist right wing ghost that we simply don't have in Denmark. Or do you have information I don't?

The Danish People's Party are without a doubt racist. With some of the blatantly racist comments they have been making (and not retracted), nobody should vote for them. 12% of the population voting for them is a problem.

[Monk]

Winston, the third largest party in Denmark is a party which you can only classify as a highly xenophobic organisation which adds fuel to the us-and-them mentality fire (if you have a shadow of doubt, I could provide a couple Pia Kjærsgaard, Søren Krarup and more Mogens Camre quotes). Since there is no center party big enough for a liberal-conservative coalition government to cooperate with on the issues of immigration policy, the self-proclaimed patriots should be pretty sure on gaining influence.

Secondly, it's highly disturbing when we have an election campaign mostly about our policy towards immigrants and witout shadow of focus on equally relevant issues; everything from world politics to the environment was absolutely neglected. It's equally disturbing that our reputation in foreign countries seems to have been harmed. It's not the death of Danish democracy or anything, but you should still be pretty concerned about it, just like I agree you should be concerned about the violent left wing fractions.

[Winston]

Thue,

The DPP isn't racist. Not even in the all too common oversimplified and highly superficial meaning of the word. They're staunch in their call for an overhaul of our immigration policies, but that doesn't make them racist.

They are however right wing in the frame of the parliamentary landscape (on some issues - on others, like welfare they're by no means right wing), but that isn't very significant in this context. Somebody has to be right wing once you have more than one party...

Half their voters are Social Democrats turned grumpier, just like was the case with the now deceased Progress Party (Frp.).

I'll maintain that anybody refering to "extremist right wing racist bastards" in Danish politics is making an inherently false statement. You have to have racist bastards in Parliament in order to attack them.

Let's calm down now, shall we.

[Thue]

If you have the DPP quotes handy now is the time, Monk.

[Winston]

Monk,
If our reputation has suffered because of this election it's because the outside World isn't sufficiently informed about the political realities in Denmark. Neither are you it seems.

The message from the election was we had a massive landslide away from the Social Democrats who've failed to perform on welfare reform issues and confidence in political leadership. In the process, the right wing DPP had a gain of 5% of the popular vote... F-i-v-e percent.

They won't have any more influence on the government's policy than the left wing Enhedslisten had on the previous government's during the past 8 years. I doubt they'll even manage that. Much of the practical political work will take place across the centre, like it always has in Denmark.

To claim this was an election solely on immigration issues is IMO only the talk of sore losers now seeing their so-desired grapes turn sour. That's the polite version. The other one is they don't know what the Hell they're talking about.

[Winston]

Originally posted by Thue
If you have the DPP quotes handy now is the time, Monk.

Or better yet, call the police and indict them for violating section 266 b of the Penal Code under which racist slurs are punishable. If the quotes you have were racist under the law you can bet your sweet botty they'd already be prosecuted.

Something tells me they aren't. Unpleasant and disgraceful no doubt but racist I highly doubt.

BTW, how come no one has wet their pants over our Prime Minister demonstratively tearing his opponent's book apart during the campaign. I know I nearly did. After all, he's one of the figureheads of political culture in this country. Tearing books up has some really unpleasant connotations if you catch my drift.

But that's all fine and dandy cause he's a pinkie I guess.

[Thue]

Yes, that was a very stupid attempt at a tough retoric trick, and he paid for it. But still a magnitute below racistic comments IMO.

[faded glory]

I think the term "Racist" is it a bit over-hyped by the left.

Just because you are anti-immigration or anti-institution doesnt mean your Racist.


Its just a played up political weapon....

[faded glory]

Anyone who doesnt beleive me should come to america and watch what happens to politicians who oppose affirmitive action. They are labeled bigots and Racist.

complete Bull****.....the country has figured out that there just crying wolf. There losing loads of support.

[Roland]

OneFootInTheGrave:

"Just for Austria and Italy, arent these two, Austria esp with Heiders party, further right, not really centre. Austrian government is probably the most nationalist sine WWII"

Nationalism is pretty irrelevant. What Haider stands for varies a lot, anything that goes with populism. So anti-establishemnt, anti-foreigners, a bit anti-EU, anti-unions, anti-business... whatever sells.

winston:

"Another point of great concern is that an overwhelming number of even third generation immigrants from Moslim countries continue to find their spouse in their home country."

Got any stats on this ?

[Bereta_Eder]

how many parliement seats does heider have again? (out of how many?)

what are his «popularity» levels nowadays?

BTW OneFoot,
Berlusconi is a sad joke, everyone knows this. A sad joke with virtually 90% of the italian media...

Last time he didn't last long in power. If Sept 11th hadn't happened I don't think he would have lasted long this time either.

[Roland]

The FP had 27 % of the vote, and now 52 out of 183 seats.

The polls have them around 20 % now, but I'd rely more on the raw data here. The FP has outperformed opinion polls at elections when they were in opposition, and underperformed since they are in government.

Haider's position is quite difficult since he has resigned the party leadership job.

[Thue]

Originally posted by Roland
winston:

"Another point of great concern is that an overwhelming number of even third generation immigrants from Moslim countries continue to find their spouse in their home country."

Got any stats on this ?

50%

[Roland]

You sure it isn't 49 % ?