Morning Briefing – Friday, September 6

The Copenhagen Post’s daily round-up of the front pages and other major Danish news stories

Sep 6, 2013

Opposition proposes major tax cut
The opposition is calling for five billion kroner in tax cuts in the 2014 budget as a way to stimulate job growth. Venstre, parliament’s largest party, said it would find room in the 697 billion kroner budget for the cuts through reforms and by limiting the growth of the public sector. In addition, Venstre predicted that up to a billion kroner could be found by requiring local councils to privatise more services. – DR Nyheder

Someone to watch over the watchdog
The tough discipline imposed on the financial sector by Finanstilsynet, the financial services authority, has got out of hand, according to opposition party Venstre, which now proposes setting up an oversight board for the organisation. During the recession, the Finanstilsynet was accused of being too soft on banks, but now Venstre says changes made by the organisation have gone too far and are damaging the economy. “We’re seeking a golden mean,” party spokesperson Kim Andersen said. – Berlingske Business

PM: Growth through reform
Job growth in the future will come not through government-funded initiatives, but through public sector reforms and strict budget discipline that makes it possible to expand training and educational possibilities, PM Helle Thorning-Schmidt said in an interview. “If you want to be better and more productive, you need to better educated,” she said. Thorning-Schmidt also pointed to the negotiations between Danish Crown and employees of the slaughterhouse over whether to accept pay cuts in exchange for the company making investments that could secure growth as something characteristically Danish. “It shows there are a lot of people who are willing to bear a heavy burden.” – Børsen

Coalition bitterly divided over paternity decision
An advisor for governing coalition member Socialistisk Folkeparti is being accused of stoking tension among the parties in the wake of the decision on Wednesday to drop plans to pursue earmarked paternity leave for fathers. The advisor is said to have compiled past statements by Socialdemokraterne and Radikale cabinet members and MPs in favour of such a plan. Several of the quotes wound up later being used by the press during discussions about the government’s back-track on the issue. The decision to drop the plan drew criticism from members of all three parties, while discussions within the cabinet reportedly put Socialdemokrat and Radikale ministers against Socialistisk Folkeparti ministers. – Jyllands-Posten

Taxmen: fire us please
As many as 250 employees of tax agency Skat have volunteered to be let go as part of the organisation’s efforts to slash 375 jobs before the end of the year. During previous lay-off rounds, only 41 employees said they would leave voluntarily. An employee spokesperson said many of those asking to be laid off now had lost interest in working for Skat after hefty criticism in the media of the organisation’s methods, which many have deemed unfair. Since 2005, the number of Skat employees has tumbled from 11,000 to around 7,000. Jesper Rønnow Simonsen, Skat’s chief executive, said not all of those seeking to be let go would be laid off. “We can’t just let essential specialist employees go,” he said. – Politiken

Liberty, affection, savings
The city of Aarhus reports that it has saved hundreds of millions of kroner by trimming the ranks of senior citizens receiving domestic care. At a time when the number of senior citizens as a proportion of the entire population is rising, Aarhus reduced the number of people receiving help from 25 to 18 percent, while at the same time improving overall health levels and personal satisfaction. The city said the plan “shows more affection and gives greater liberty to residents”, as well as expanding physical training programmes and rolling out technologies that make it easier for senior citizens to care for themselves. – Mandag Morgen