Cost of refugees skyrocketing in Denmark

Over 25,000 asylum seekers expected next year

The expenses incurred in handling asylum-seekers in Denmark have doubled to well over 9 billion kroner.

And Dansk Folkeparti (DF) and Socialdemokraterne (S) are both now accusing the current Venstre-led government of breaking its campaign promises to slow down the numbers and slash the costs the country pays for asylum-seekers.

In 2014, the last full year of Helle Thorning-Schmidt’s government, the cost stood at 4.7 billion kroner as 14,815 people sought asylum.

And according to a parliamentary answer from the immigration minister, Inger Støjberg, the anticipated 25,000 asylum-seekers headed to Denmark next year will cost the country nearly 10 billion kroner.

Broken promises
In 2014, Venstre made a campaign promise for an immediate slowdown in the number of asylum-seekers, which would save billions of kroner. Both DF and S are now saying that Venstre has broken its promises.

“One must recall that Venstre clearly promised voters fewer asylum-seekers and that they would save billions in costs,” DF head Peter Skaarup told Metroxpress. “Neither thing has happened.”

READ MORE: Six percent of residents on Danish island now refugees

“The costs are billions more and the government announced that they expect a record 25,000 asylum seekers next year,” parliamentary minister Benny Engelbrecht (S) said. “Venstre is not keeping its promises.”