Last Week in Denmark (31.07 - 07.08) Episode 26 Year 2
Elections are coming; Win a trip to Berlin; All about sleeping
Editor HQ
18 days until the “Political Festival of Europe”. A milestone for the international community, the largest event in English ever made in Denmark. A milestone for “Last Week in Denmark”, as democracy and media partners. As members of the “International Community” in Denmark, it’s our duty to ensure that this event goes further than the first edition. When? 25-28 August Where? Mariager, North Denmark.
The organizers of the festival are asking for help - a hundred more volunteers are needed to ensure the smooth running of the event. If you are planning to visit the festival, at least for a day, think about donating a few hours to the festival. What can you do?
Join the “Speakers Service Team” - more info here - Send an email to Bolette (bhss@pfoe.org).
Join the “Social Media Team” - more info here.
You can also offer your time to be a guard; to run an info post; to join the stages or tents-crew - you can apply here.
Win a trip to Berlin: Drive with a festival car sticker until the 28th of August and get the chance to win a train trip to Berlin with 2-nights in a 4-stars hotel in Berlin. You can get the car sticker from Torvet 1A in Mariager.
Danish Politics HQ
The political game
The state of the “green” parties in Denmark: Unlike other EU member states, Denmark doesn’t have a strong political party that is called “the green party”. No wonder, when almost every party claims to be for the green transition and to fight against climate change. However, that didn’t stop a plethora of small parties to challenge the title “the green party of Denmark”.
The Vegan Party decided to merge with a small party called “The Greens” and establish the “Green Alliance” party. They feared that the name “Vegan” might have been too identity-political and exclusionary. They hope in the future to pander to all earth-loving voters regardless if they eat meat or not.
Now, the “Green Alliance” party is hovering just above 0,4%, far away from the 2% needed to enter the Danish Parliament. They invited other “green-minded” parties to join the “Green Alliance” in order to reach 2%.
The two other more significant “green” parties, Free Greens and Alternativet, said no to the offer of joining the “Green Alliance” party. Free Greens (Sikandar Siddique) are at 0,8% and Alternativet has 1,3% in the opinion polls. Both, far away from the 2% needed. I can see why the “Green Alliance” asked for a coalition of the green parties. Together, they might pass the 2% limit.
The parliamentary elections are coming: Printing companies are producing thousands of posters as we speak. Political commercials have started to appear on buses, on TV, and in newspapers. The elections are expected to be called soon, sometimes before early October. What are the latest polls saying?
Socialdemokraterne (45 mandates); SF (15 mandates); Enhedslisten (13 mandates); Radikale Venstre (11 mandates) = Total of 84 mandates for the “red” parties
Venstre (26 mandates); Konservative (21 mandates); DD-Inger Støjberg (20 mandates); Nye Borgerlige (8 mandates); Liberal Alliance (7 mandates); DF (4 mandates) = Total of 86 mandates for the “blue” parties
The 5 mandates for Lars Løkke’s Moderaterne will decide if we will have a red or blue government.
34% of the people in Denmark think that the current prime-minister, Mette Frederiksen, is doing a bad job, while 43% think she is doing a good job. It changed a lot since the pandemic, when 79% thought she is doing a good job and only 5% were saying she is doing a bad job.
The following five issues will be the most important in the soon-to-be elections - Hospitals and health (33%); Environment and climate (24%); Economy (22%); Mental health (16%); Refugees and immigrants (13%).
10 most popular politicians in Denmark: Søren Pape Poulsen (leader of the Conservatives) is the most popular with 54% of the population having a positive opinion about him. Health Minister Magnus Heunicke is the second with 49%. Prime-Minister Mette Frederiksen is in third place with 46%.
4. Pia Olsen Dyhr (leader of the Socialists) 41%; 5. Inger Støjberg (infamous convicted former minister) 40%; 6. Minister of Justice Mattias Tesfaye 39%; 7. Lars Løkke Rasmussen (leader of Moderaterne) 39%; 8. Minister for Children and Education Pernille Rosenkrantz-Theil 34%; 9. Jakob Ellemann-Jensen (leader of the Liberals) 34%; 10. Finance Minister Nicolai Wammen 33%
10 most unpopular politicians in Denmark: Morten Messerschmidt (leader of DF) is by far the most unpopular politician at the moment in Denmark with 72% of the people having a negative opinion about him. Pernille Vermund (leader of Nye Borgerlige) is the second with 61%. Sofie Carsten Nielsen (leader of Radikale Venstre) is in third place with 49%.
4. Jakob Ellemann-Jensen (leader of Venstre) 48%; 5. Inger Støjberg (leader of DD-IS) 48%; 6. former Minister of Defense Trine Bramsen 45%; 7. Lars Løkke Rasmussen (leader of Moderaterne) 45%; 8. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen 45%; 9. Sikandar Siddique (leader of Free Greens) 44%; 10. Climate, Energy and Supply Minister Dan Jørgensen 37%
Politician school: The Grundfos Foundation, the Politiken Foundation and Dansk Industri have given money to a pilot project meant to prepare people from various backgrounds to become politicians. You can apply for it here until the 22nd of August. The first edition will be a 3-day seminar (30 September - 2 October) in Nyborg. Top level former politicians will be there - Tommy Ahlers, Kirsten Brosbøl, Bjarne Corydon, Maria Reumert Gjerding, Connie Hedegaard, Martin Lidegaard, Sigge Winther Nielsen.
Law proposals
“Folkeskole” reform: In 2013, during Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt a political agreement was made between Socialdemokratiet, SF, Radikale Venstre, Venstre, DF and Konservative to reform the “folkeskole”. Now, SF is leaving that political agreement as they feel like the reform has failed and that the schools need more freedom and less centralization. If more parties will leave the agreement, then a new reform needs to be agreed upon.
Danish Economy HQ
School starts again: On Monday, the children will return to the schools. This is an annual shopping event with parents running amok to find all the tools needed for their precious offspring. This year is special as we have the high inflation to take into account. So, DR prepared a list of products that actually got cheaper compared to last year.
Lunch box (Rice Barn Retro Flamingo 34 DKK); Water Bottle (Gurli Pig Premium with Flip function 480 ml 94 DKK); Calculator (Sharp EL-501XBWH 29 DKK); Pencil case (Dino World Triple With LED Underwater 200 DKK); Children bike (Puch Tea 16” 2020 499 DKK); Bicycle helmet (ABUS Hyban 199 DKK); School bag (Jeva Supreme – Lightning 279 DKK) - Total 1334 DKK
AP Møller Mærsk profit after the first half of 2022 is 117 billion DKK. The company does not pay corporation tax on the income made from shipping. They pay the 4% tonnage tax instead. So, despite historically high profits, very little goes into the coffers of the state. Now, there is demand from the political class to rethink the tonnage tax.
To compare, AP Møller-Maersk paid 4,5 billion DKK tax last year, while Novo Nordisk paid 14,7 billion DKK last year. Novo Nordisk made 48,7 billion DKK profit while AP Møller-Maersk made 117 billion DKK.
PFA vs. Facebook: The pension company PFA has sued Meta Inc. (the parent company of Facebook) for misleading investors. Facebook changed its algorithm which led to a higher propagation of misinformation and harmful content which led to a lower value of the Facebook shares.
From 2nd August, we have new maternity leave rules in Denmark. The change has been triggered due to an EU directive that specifies that there needs to be a minimum of 2 months of maternity leave for each parent.
The mother has the right to 4 weeks leave before birth; both parents have the right to 2 weeks leave immediately after birth; both parents have the right to 26 weeks combined leave which they can share; each parent has the right to 9 weeks leave which they cannot share.
If you are a single mother or single father, you are entitled to the entire 46 weeks leave. From January 2024, the single mother/father will be able to transfer 13 weeks to a close family member.
Daily Life in Denmark HQ
DSB guards at the S-train stations in the capital: To increase safety at night, DSB is introducing a guard system at the S-train stations in the capital. 29 stations on the F line between Hellerup and Ny Ellebjerg and on the section from Hellerup to Copenhagen H will be covered by the guard system. 13 other stations are also considered for further expansion of the program.
Sleeping is the most important for your health: “Young people sleep too little and this is due to too much use of the phone, computer, tablet and TV before bedtime.” says a new study published by the Danish Institute of Public Health.
Teenagers between the ages of 14-17 are recommended to get between 8-10 hours of sleep, while young adults are recommended 7-9 hours of sleep.
“We know that sleep is of great importance for well-being. If you do not get enough sleep over a long period, the brain does not recover properly, and this affects both mood and ability to concentrate.”
“The screens must be out of the bedroom, and we must learn to prioritize our sleep as the most important thing when it comes to our health”, says specialist doctor Imran Rashid.
Put sleep first when it comes to your health.
1 hour before sleep avoid all types of screens (The blue light from the screens affects the production of the sleep-promoting substance melatonin).
Make sure to get your phone and other screens out of the bedroom - your phone is not an alarm clock.
Ensure darkness and a comfortable temperature.
Let go and say goodbye to the world.
The complete guide to contraception: DR made very interesting research that presents everything about all the contraception methods that are available on the market.
Climate with Amina McCauley
For the first time ever, a weather forecast predicts 40 degrees in Denmark. As it is looking two weeks ahead (August 15), it may not be accurate and is quite unlikely to be reached, but meteorologists are worried, saying a forecast has never predicted such a high temperature.
Eight wind turbines of heights up to 450m will be built and tested in Denmark by 2027. For perspective, the Eiffel Tower is 300m high. Currently, the highest wind turbine in Denmark is 271m, and is located in Østerild Klitplantage in North Jutland.
Sport with Jelimir Vlastici
Jonas Vingegaard isn't the only Dane on two wheels that recently won a medal; last weekend, 20-year-old Malene Kejlstrup Sørensen secured the gold medal at the U23 BMX World Championships in Nantes. She became one of the hottest names in BMX as she also managed to win the U23 European Championship at the beginning of July. Her name will be carved in the history books as she is the first ever U23 world champion in BMX, due to the fact that this weekend was the first time the WC was held for the U23 series.
Also, last weekend, Christian Eriksen made his unofficial debut for his new team, Manchester United, in a friendly game against Atlético Madrid. He came on the pitch in the 69th minute, but did not manage to prevent his team from losing 1-0.
The fact a team won and the other lost is not important, and only cared for by the statisticians and the coaching staff. What is worth mentioning is the uplifting story of Christian Eriksen. After he suffered a cardiac arrest last year, the Dane’s transfer to Manchester United concludes an incredible come-back story that only a few people believed he could.
European Union HQ
The states of the European Union have started the big preparation for the “cold winter” ahead without Russian gas.
France: 20% of the gas used comes from Russia. They plan to introduce in September a “gas-saving” plan that will reduce consumption by 10%. For example, stores will not be able to keep their doors open while air conditioning and heating are running.
Spain: 10% of the gas used comes from Russia. This week they issued a decree ordering businesses to curb air conditioning at 27°C in summer and heating to 19°C this winter.
Germany: 33% of the gas used comes from Russia. The government called on public buildings and office buildings to stop heating “rooms where people do not regularly spend time,” such as corridors and large halls.
Italy: 40% of the gas used comes from Russia. The government announced it was drafting an emergency savings plan that could include limiting heating to 19°C in winter and cooling to 27°C in summer, reducing street lighting at night, and closing shops early.