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National Round-Up: Messerschmidt guilty, but only gets a suspended sentence

Meanwhile, Kristian Hegaard, the only wheelchair user serving in Parliament, has stood down after a few ‘nights out’ ended in blackouts he could not forgive himself for

DF deputy chair Morten Messerschmidt has been found guilty of fraud and forgery in connection with his chairing of the Meld organisation, and its use of EU funds, and been handed a six-month suspended sentence.

At Lyngby Court, the jury was unanimous with its verdict. The prosecution had demanded a six-month custodial sentence.

Long-running investigation
The investigation into the allegations began in 2016, involving the EU’s anti-fraud unit OLAF and also the Danish authorities: SØIK.

Messerschmidt’s party Dansk Folkeparti, of which he is the deputy leader, had previously said it was willing to pay back 2.5 million kroner to the EU.

MP quits after blackout following party
Radikale MP Kristian Hegaard, a wheelchair user, is stepping down from politics. He explained on Facebook that he had let himself down with some excessive drinking of late – to the extent he woke up following a party with no memory of what happened at the event. “I have violated the values ​​I stand for. Therefore, I do not think I can continue in politics with credibility for now and therefore resign,” he explained. The 30-year-old was elected in 2019, becoming the second wheelchair user to take a seat in the Danish Parliament following former ‘X Factor’ contestant and now local politician Sarah Glerup, who temporarily stood in for Pelle Dragsted in 2016. 

Priest miffed that nearby Parken can take 30,000, and his church only 120
Rasmus Nøjgaard, a Lutheran priest who works at St Jacob’s Church in Østerbro, has recently been in the news complaining about the ongoing corona restrictions that make it impossible for him to welcome many worshippers – even though nearby Parken stadium was able to fit in 31,297 spectators for the recent New Firm Derby last Sunday, in which FC Copenhagen beat Superliga champions Brøndby 4-2. Each visitor to the church still requires two sqm each, meaning only 120 people recently gathered for a recent christening, despite the church having a capacity of 550. Confirmation ceremonies have been similarly affected. 

Young people accounting for lion’s share of hospitalisation acceleration
Odense University Hospital and Hvidovre Hospital confirmed that most of their corona-infected patients are people aged 20-40 who have not been vaccinated. The number of hospitalisations has been rising of late. As of today, it stands at 101 – up from 18 a little over two months ago. Meanwhile, the infection rate has been rising as well: presumably as more people get tested after returning from holiday. Some 1,038 have been reported infected over the last 24 hours. Over 62 percent of the population are now fully vaccinated. 

Can shortage to hit Denmark shortly
A shortage of aluminium will lead to fewer cans being on the market over the remainder of the year. For example, Bryggeriet Vestfyen expects to sell 20 percent fewer canned beers than expected this year. A drought in China is apparently to blame, as it has left the country with not enough energy from its hydropower plants to power its factories. Additionally, cans have been in higher demand since the start of the pandemic, as more people consume beer at home. Furthermore, drinking from a can, instead of draught beer, reduces the risk of infection.

Rejected asylum-seeker repatriations to Afghanistan suspended
Just days after news broke that Denmark would offer temporary residence to 200 Afghans to help them evade Taliban reprisals, it has been confirmed that Denmark will not be able to repatriate 45 rejected Afghan asylum-seekers.  The Immigration and Integration Ministry has confirmed it will cease all such repatriations to the country until October 8.

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