We can assume that the next general election is going to be next year’s political highlight. It was rumoured that the prime minister would have chanced an autumn election this year if the former PM, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, had been ousted because of his poor household skills, but he survived – on what can only be considered probation. They simply had no workable alternative.
Blues throw a curveball
The Konservative party, meanwhile, was frustrated and in search of its own identity. They again – once again – needed a new chairman and got one. But to everybody’s surprise they went outside their group of MPs – as few as they are these days.
Their choice, the mayor of Viborg in Jutland, Søren Pape Poulsen, is happily married to another man. He is taking charge of the party and seeking election in Western Jutland. Not many saw that coming, but after the tabloids’ initial curiosity we are back to normal (thank you), and we now want to see if he can revitalise a party that has seen its support in the polls reduced to 5 percent – a long way off the glory days of the Poul Schlüter era.
God, king, nation no longer
Konservative’s traditional foundations are crumbling. God, king and nation are not the winning issues any more.
The need to decide whether to support a reform of the church as more and more stand empty, are sold and converted back into community centres. Most Danes are only token Christians, or agnostics or atheists. Maybe the 200,000 active Muslims out there would gladly take over a church building or two?
The constitutional monarchy is not an issue as long as everybody realises that the queen would win any presidential election if there was one. No politician is maverick enough to make that challenge. Especially not the Konservative party.
The nation is for better or worse a part of the EU, NATO, and various alliances here and there, and it does not make sense to be sceptical. Go for influence. Denmark always wants to lead the pack, not be at the back.
Time to strike
We would be gladly surprised if the new chairman of the Konservative party transformed it into a daring, progressive and modern party for modern and progressive citizens.
He should lead the discussion on the really tricky issues such as: getting rid of the EU opt-outs; implementing English as an official second language; fighting crime with a controlled liberalisation of cannabis; making the church of Denmark independent and constitutionally making it a secular democracy; and implementing a controlled immigration of talent to make up for the demographic challenge.
Nothing to lose
These things will happen inevitably. But Poulsen should make them happen before somebody else does.
It might be controversial, but now the party has shown some civil courage, we expect more . There is not much to lose: only eight seats! Only those who can afford to lose can win. (ES)
