Sunday, August 06, 2006

News and comment from Denmark

For a long time now, the various opposition parties have been in a turmoil. This seems to be quite normal for opposition parties and I note its been even worse in the UK. The Radikal Venstre, of which I have made mention before, is no different, with an internal feud threatening to break out into open rebellion at any time. As before, the trouble stems from the party's two main figures. Its leader, Marianne Jelved and its most popular figure, the Syrian born Naser Khader. Khader's rise to popularity, on the back of the mo'toons crisis has given him the political weight needed to pose indirect challenges to his party's leadership.

The Danish government has had a policy of no new taxes since 2001 known as the Tax Stop. This policy was a precondition of the Conservative Party for joining the government in partnership with Venstre (the Liberal Conservative's). Now Naser Khader has defied his party's leader and announced that he believes the Radikal Venstre should accept the Tax Stop, as well as several other government policies if they are to have any chance at joining in the next government coalition.

It should be noted that the Danish government is a two party, minority government which can only govern by means of assisstence in the Folketing (parliament) from the nationalist Dansk Folkeparti under the leadership of Pia Kjærsgaard ...Jelved's long time arch enemy. To say that these two women have strong differences is putting it mildly. Jelved in particular loaths Kjærsgaard and cannot contain her emotions when both are present in a TV studio. For a politician, she has a remarkable lack of self control, though she tries to retain a passive visage.

Considering then that the best way to undermine the nationalists influence is to put her party forwards as an alternative, and official, partner in government, it seems odd that Jelved should be so adamant in her opposition to the government's Tax Stop policy. Jelved has firmly refused to accept such a deal and seems to believe her opposition is enough to gather the support she needs to put herself forwards as a candidate for the job of Prime Minister.

moif: Jelved is a bit like a Swedish politician in her reactions to the nationalists and her own bloated sense of self worth. I'll be amazed and surprised (and horrified) if she really can get her self into the top job. She's a monster EUrophile, even broke down crying when the Dane's rejected the Euro, and given half the chance I have no doubt she would sell us all up the river to those bastardos in Bruxelles.


In other news, a Danish institute called Dream has released findings regarding the fertility rates of immigrants. One of the most common perceptions of immigration in Denmark has been the premise that the Muslims will out breed the Danes within 50 - 70 years (though some scientists say our climate isn't going to last that long with the current rate of heating anyway).

Now Dream has released new figures that show a marked drop in fertility rates amongst immigrant women, from circa 4 children in 1980, to 2.4 children today. If these findings are accurate and the trend holds steady then within another generation, immigrant fertility rates in Denmark will probably reach the same level as Danes.

At the same time, Denmark's rules for quota immigration have been changed and now more Christians than Muslims are entering the country. This has been called 'racist', not least by Marianne Jelved, but the government has dismissed such accusations xplaining that many Christians are just as needy as many Muslims, and they have an easier time adjusting to Danish society.

Jyllands Posten has a piece (in Danish) on this which, with no uncertainty, explains the cause as being due to Denmark's tight new immigration laws.

moif: This would change a lot. For almost two decades now we've been told that there is a credible threat from Muslim immigration due to excessive birth rates and I think this, as well as the rising criminality of Denmark's city's, is one of the big factors upon which so much of the nationalist vote is based. If it now comes to pass that immigration from Islamic countries slows down, as has happened, and the domestic fertility rate drops to the national average, then I can't see how the perception of a threat can be maintained. The only thing to worry about then would be Marianne Jelved coming to power and opening the gates to the Middle East again and allowing yet another wave of Muslim immigration...

edited to add....

A poll has been undertaken in Denmark regarding the conflict in Southern Lebanon.
57% placed the blame for the conflict on Hezbollah
37% placed the blame for the conflict on Israel

48% admitted to having a greater sympathy for Israel
7% admitted to having a greater sympathy for Hezbollah, when asked, almost all these identified themselves as left wing voters.

39% feel the Danish government is doing a good job with regards to the conflict.
19% feel the Danish government is doing a bad job with regards to the conflict.

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