Internationals are not a priority for the new government
Last Week in Denmark (31.05-07.06) Episode 21 Year 6
What did we learn this week?
A new government comprising Socialdemokratiet, SF, Radikale Venstre, and Moderaterne has been formed with Mette Frederiksen at the helm.
A key promise is to eventually offer free dental care.
They also aim to remove the 25% VAT on fruits and vegetables and halve the VAT on all other food.
Letter from the editor
It only took two months to end up with what was predicted on election night. We now have a center-left government made up of four parties: Socialdemokratiet (Social Democrats), SF (Green Left), Radikale Venstre (Social Liberals), and Moderaterne (Social Liberals), with Mette Frederiksen remaining as prime minister in what will likely be her final term.
On paper, this should be good news for internationals. Several of the parties involved have historically supported a more open approach. Yet after reading the new 76-page government program, I was left with a different impression.
Internationals are barely mentioned.
In fact, references to us can almost be counted on one hand. The government confirms that the current immigration policy will remain unchanged and that there should continue to be control over how many people come here. It acknowledges that international workers have contributed significantly to the strong economic growth. And it includes a commitment to protect children with ethnic minority backgrounds from violence in schools.
That is essentially the extent of it.
There is nothing about citizenship reform. Nothing about permanent residence. Nothing about attracting international talent. Nothing about retaining international graduates after they finish their studies. Nothing about helping accompanying spouses enter the labor market. Nothing about improving inclusion or strengthening the sense of belonging among the hundreds of thousands of internationals who already call Denmark home.
This is strange because the government’s own economic vision depends heavily on a growing workforce. The document explicitly recognizes our contribution to recent economic success. Yet there is little discussion of how Denmark plans to remain attractive in the global race for talent.
The appointment of Morten Bødskov as Minister for Immigration and Integration offers some room for optimism. Unlike his predecessors, he has not built his political career around immigration policy. His background is largely in business and economic growth. That could lead to a more labor-market-oriented approach. At the same time, he is a close ally of Mette Frederiksen and has been entrusted with continuing the existing immigration model rather than reforming it.
And considering what was waiting if we’d gotten a right-wing government, I’ll take the status quo over reforms that would have made our lives in Denmark even more difficult.
It is unfortunate that the pro-internationals political parties couldn’t have a more significant impact on this issue, but at least we can hope that they will stop attempts to make it even harder for us. So that’s another positive outlook.
I hope with time, the focus will switch from how to punish “bad internationals” (whatever that means) to how to support internationals with building a dignified life in Denmark. I am honored that our effort has been recognized in economic growth, but they need to see us as more than dollar signs.
We take the most risky jobs in Denmark. We take most of the jobs that uphold the welfare system and also those that build our society. We prop up innovation by creating thousands of start-ups. We protect the cornerstone of Danish society by volunteering and joining organizations in decline. We spend most of our youth and adult lives here. Our children keep Denmark young.
For now, it seems the government sees us primarily as workers rather than future citizens. At the same time, a center-left government gives us the chance to at least have a dialogue with the people in power and try to make them see us. As more than just workers. So there is hope moving forward.
Thank you for reading and sharing Last Week in Denmark!
Narcis George Matache, Executive Editor, LWID
Our long-form articles this week…
Finding a Voice in Local Politics as an International in Denmark by John Dixon
Denmark Saw the Autism We Couldn’t by Stephanie Lund
A Patient Tutor, a Complex Language, and a Lot of Vowels by Paulina Stachnik
You’re the Best-Kept Secret in Your Organization by Florin Lungu
🎙️ The Last Week in Denmark podcast is taking a summer break. After a busy season, we’re pressing pause until the first week of August. Thank you for listening and supporting the show. We’ll be back after the holidays with fresh episodes and new stories from around the country. ☀️In the meantime, feel free to check our episodes from Season 5 here.
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Image(s) of the Week
📸 Photos from a very rainy week.
Danish Politics HQ
Political scene
So, what are the wishes of the new government?
DEFENSE
Increase defense and preparedness spending to at least 5% of GDP by 2030.
EDUCATION
Invest 5 billion DKK in the education system to recruit more teachers and renovate buildings.
Raise the minimum age to use social media to 15, with no parental exemptions.
Raise social assistance by at least 1,000 DKK per month for vulnerable young people with certain psychiatric diagnoses.
The 100 public schools with the weakest results in Danish and mathematics will receive targeted support from 2027.
HEALTH
Make dental care free for everyone over the next decade. The first to receive it will be vulnerable groups and disability pensioners.
GREEN TRANSITION
Major reform of pig farming. Focus on improving animal welfare.
New support for small-scale farms (especially organic production and plant-based agriculture). Make it easier to access loans and take over old farms.
Increase domestic production of fruits and vegetables.
Designate 30% of land for nature, including 10% under strict protection.
Expand the marine protected areas and set stronger measures against pollution at sea.
National ban on pesticides in vulnerable groundwater areas. Protecting drinking water is a key priority for the new government.
Local residents and municipalities to receive a larger share of the benefits when renewable energy infrastructure is built nearby. This could include community funds for local facilities and additional money for municipalities that host wind farms or solar parks.
Major expansion of renewable energy production and a mandate to replace fossil fuels with electricity wherever possible. Focus on transport, heating, and industrial production.
PROGRESS
Use AI to improve public administration and free up the equivalent of 30,000 full-time positions. This doesn’t mean that they plan to fire 30,000 people, but rather to avoid hiring more people in the public system.
Create a national AI strategy for schools and education.
Increase public research spending to at least 1% of GDP.
🇪🇺 The government is betting on Europe. One of the clearest messages in the new government program is that Denmark wants closer cooperation with the EU and Nordic countries. The government argues that Europe must become less dependent on the United States, China, and Russia and plans to strengthen cooperation on defense, technology, energy, and foreign policy. Analysts describe it as one of the most ambitious pro-European shifts in decades.
🌾 Agriculture loses its dedicated ministry after 130 years. For the first time since 1896, Denmark no longer has a Ministry of Food, Agriculture, and Fisheries. Its responsibilities will be split across several ministries, with nature, animal welfare, fisheries, food safety, and agriculture now handled separately. Supporters see the move as a sign that animal welfare should no longer be viewed only through the lens of agricultural production.
🌍 Two ministers with immigrant roots join the new cabinet. The new government includes Climate Minister Samira Nawa, whose family background is Afghan, and Social Affairs Minister Monika Rubin, who is the daughter of a Polish mother and Persian father. While Denmark has had ministers with immigrant backgrounds before, these appointments reflect a country whose political leadership is slowly beginning to look more like the society it represents.
👩⚖️ For the first time, women outnumber men in government. The new government includes 11 women and 10 men, making it the first in Danish history with a female majority among ministers. The milestone comes shortly after the election produced the most gender-balanced parliament ever, with women holding 48% of seats. While women remain underrepresented in some parties, the new cabinet reflects a long-term trend toward greater gender balance in Danish politics.
🏛️ Talk of life after Mette Frederiksen is growing. The appointment of Peter Hummelgaard as finance minister has sparked intense speculation about who will eventually succeed Mette Frederiksen as leader of the Socialdemokratiet. Several political commentators see the move as a signal that Hummelgaard is her preferred successor, a decision that created tensions inside the party. The debate has also revived rumors that Frederiksen could pursue an international leadership role before the next election.
The Finance Minister is the second most powerful person in government after the prime minister. The position was held by another Social Democrat, Nicolai Wammen, for the previous Mette-led governments.
Nicolai Wammen is from an opposing faction in the party, while Peter Hummelgaard is from Mette’s faction. As this is Mette’s last mandate, she is using the chance to point towards one of her own as the successor, or the “crown prince” as the Danish media calls it.
Daily Life in Denmark HQ
🍽️ Five restaurants earned their first Michelin star. Denmark added five new one-star restaurants to the Michelin Guide this year: Lille Mølle, Akmé, ESSE, Bach & Nurup, and Okê. The awards mean that Aalborg gained a new Michelin restaurant and Skagen received its first-ever Michelin star. At the top end of the guide, Kadeau joined Geranium and Jordnær in the exclusive three-star category, confirming the country’s position as one of Europe’s strongest food destinations.
🚴 A historic milestone for Danish cycling. By winning the Giro d’Italia, Jonas Vingegaard has now claimed victories in cycling’s three biggest races: the Tour de France, Vuelta a España, and Giro d’Italia. Only a handful of cyclists have achieved the feat, often referred to as completing cycling’s Triple Crown. For many sports fans, it confirms Vingegaard’s place among the greatest riders of his generation and adds another chapter to Denmark’s remarkable success in international cycling.
🐦 More people are stopping to listen to the birds. Interest in birdwatching has surged across the country, particularly among young people. Experts credit a combination of nature-focused lifestyles and apps that can identify birds from their songs. The trend reflects a wider shift toward outdoor hobbies. For us, birdwatching may be one of the easiest ways to discover nature while meeting people with similar interests.
☀️ We lead Europe in skin cancer cases. A new report shows that Denmark has the highest rate of melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, in Europe. Experts point to a combination of fair skin and decades of tanning culture. Around one in four people will develop some form of skin cancer before the age of 80, and the number of cases continues to rise. Health organizations are now urging young people to take UV warnings more seriously and to rethink the idea that a summer tan is worth the risk.
🚲 A pedal boat went on holiday in Sweden. A yellow pedal boat from a campsite near Voerså in North Denmark somehow travelled around 100 kilometres across the Kattegat and washed up on a Swedish beach. The owner believes someone forgot to secure it after a trip, allowing currents to carry it all the way to Sweden. The boat, worth around 25,000 DKK, will soon be collected and brought home. Remarkably, this is the second time one of the business’ pedal boats has made the journey across the sea on its own.
🏫 A controversial “timeout school” has not received a single student. One year ago, Odense created a special school where disruptive students could be removed from their regular classes for up to 15 days. The initiative sparked national debate, but the classrooms have remained empty. Instead, a mobile team of psychologists, social workers, and education specialists has been sent directly to schools 16 times to help students before problems escalate.
Danish Economics HQ
Our money
As this edition is focused on the political framework of the new government, let’s see what ideas they have relating to our pockets:
Remove VAT (moms) on fruits and vegetables and reduce it by half on all other food. We should notice considerably lower prices (between 12.5% and 25%) once this is implemented.
Temporary increase of the commuting deduction (befordringsfradrag). This tax deduction currently applies to people who live more than 12 km from the workplace. No specific amount has been mentioned.
The 5% “top top skat” (tax) on personal income above 2.59 million DKK per year will be removed. It was barely introduced this year.
The 7.5% mellemskat (tax) on personal income above 641,200 DKK per year will be abolished. It was also just introduced this year.
Around 10,000 DKK extra per year for the poorest pensioners. Around 266,000 pensioners are in that category.
A higher inheritance tax will be introduced. No further details yet.
Free public transport for people under 22 years old and generally cheaper public transport for everyone. The timeline has not yet been announced.
Lower energy costs are a political priority. This means there will be multiple measures to push the energy costs down.
Before you celebrate cheaper food on the way, keep in mind that introducing differentiated VAT will take a minimum of 2 years and can only be done if we reform the current digital systems used. If the similar update of property valuation systems is a sign, then we’re in for a long road.
Also, to pay for all the government proposals, more money will have to be collected. For you it means that tax deductions will be frozen for the next two years (instead of being adjusted to inflation), effectively meaning that you will have a higher income tax.
💰 A record 127,800 people in Denmark are now US dollar millionaires. The number of people with investable assets worth more than 1 million US dollars (around 6.5 million DKK) grew by 10,700 last year, according to a new report from Capgemini. Rising stock markets and higher property values helped drive the increase, making this the highest number ever recorded. The report also found that 420 people now belong to the ultra-wealthy category, with investable assets exceeding 30 million US dollars.
💰 Thousands of part-time workers are owed overtime pay. Following an EU court ruling, municipalities and regions must compensate part-time employees who worked extra hours but were not paid overtime under Danish rules. The bill is expected to exceed 3.3 billion DKK, including more than 850 million DKK in the healthcare sector alone. The challenge now is identifying who is entitled to compensation, meaning many workers may have to wait months before seeing any money.
State of the markets
What is expected on the markets from the new government?
A tech tax will be introduced on large technology companies. No further details, besides the desire to collect 1 billion DKK per year in this way.
Homeownership could become easier for first-time buyers as the government explores lower taxes, lower fees, and new financing options.
New measures are planned to limit short-term rentals that remove homes from the regular housing market.
Reduce waiting times for construction permits and simplify building regulations. The aim is to make it easier and quicker to renovate and convert housing across the country.
Empty sites, underused buildings, attics, basements, and other existing spaces could be converted into housing as part of a broader effort to increase supply without relying solely on new construction.
Remove landfill fees for asbestos waste and explore state-backed loans that would make it easier to finance roof replacement.
🥣 The great skyr shortage continues. If you’ve noticed empty skyr shelves at the supermarket, you’re not imagining things. Arla says sales have increased by 25% over the past two years. The boom is part of a wider protein craze, with skyr and protein drinks flying off shelves across Europe. Experts say social media recipes and a growing focus on high-protein diets are helping fuel demand.
Entrepreneurship
Let’s see what they plan for business owners. These are just proposals and not yet passed laws.
Reduce corporate tax from 22% to 19%, gradually over the next three years.
Reduce the administrative burdens of companies by an amount equivalent to 1% of GDP until 2035. Expect less reporting and faster approvals.
Future business policy will increasingly focus on technologies and industries considered strategically important for European independence, including green energy, advanced manufacturing, digital technology, AI, and critical infrastructure.
International Community HQ
📝 More than 6,500 people took the citizenship test this week. Across 46 language centers, applicants for Danish citizenship faced 45 questions covering history, culture, current affairs, and Danish values. To pass, applicants must answer at least 36 questions correctly and get at least four out of five value-based questions right. At the last test, 47% of the participants passed. Try the test here. Meanwhile, thousands are awaiting response on their previous applications, after processing was paused for the two months of government negotiations
Community Noticeboard
IHC — Renting a Home in Denmark 📍Online | 🗓 Thu Jun 18, 12:00–13:15 | Free, requires sign up
IHC — International Café (Welcome Ambassadors) 📍Ørestad Library, Copenhagen | 🗓 Thu Jun 25, 17:00–19:00 | Free, requires sign up
Copenhagen Expat Meetups 📍Copenhagen | 🗓 Thu Jun 11, 17:00–19:00 | Free, requires sign up
➕ Hosting something relevant to internationals in Denmark? Send it to us at noticeboard@lwid.dk
Denmark in Global Headlines
🐋 “Dead whale towed ashore in Denmark ahead of autopsy” – BBC
🇮🇷 “Denmark warns of growing terror threat linked to Iran” – Arab Times Kuwait
🚀 “One of Denmark’s biggest pension funds blacklists IPO of Elon Musk’s SpaceX” – Times of India
🇬🇱 “Greenland is part of Denmark… ‘for now’, Rubio says” – Politico
🏛️ “New Danish government vows to resist Greenland pressure and tackle cost of living” – The Guardian
👩💼 “Denmark PM presents new government, with majority of women” – South China Morning Post