The baton has been passed. Today Villy Søvndal, chair person of The Socialist People's Party (F) responds to the remarks made by first Margrethe Vestager from The Danish Social Liberal Party (R), and later Naser Khader from Liberal Alliance (Y) on the issue of 'democratic flicker' in the Danish parliament. Referring to a worsened democratic and collaboratory climate. This time around, no fuzzy nature. Just statements. And only limited tongue-in-cheek. See the two blog segments below:Part One: http://paradoxicalnews.blogspot.com/2008/10/democratic-flicker.html
According to Margrethe Vestager the democratic climate has worsened since 2001, since the current government came into office, blaming the coalition parties of The Liberals (V) and The Conservatives (C) for only co-operating with The Danish People's Party (O) on the ultimate Right.
Part Two: http://paradoxicalnews.blogspot.com/2008/11/democratic-flicker-part-two.html
Naser Khader agrees, but primarily blames The Danish People's Party for this 'democratic flicker'.
Villy Søvndal (F) agrees with both, and elaborates:
'After 2001 the majority has decided to conduct block policy to an extent we have never seen before. For instance in connection with the solutions to resolve the financial crisis. It was block policy to go to war in Iraq. And there is a block policy in connection with the passing of the financial bill every year. This is a new pattern that replaces the co-operative pattern in the parliament, that we had up until 2001. So there is a de facto majority of V, K, and O, and they make it a virtue to exclude other parties.'
Who in the government have you met obligence from?
'It is difficult to make a graduation. But if you had asked the reverse question, who hinders co-operation the most, I think it is The Danish People's Party.'
What are the worst examples of a co-operation not working with The Danish People's Party?
'The financial bill for one. We wanted to be part of a deal, but where not allowed by The Danish People's Party. And two years ago, we made an environmental deal in connection with the financial bill, where the deal had been negociated to pass, where The Danish People's Party made the statement of not wanting to include other parties.'
Are there any areas where you find it possible to keep in step with The Danish People's Party?
'No, not in important areas. Whenever The Danish People's Party must choose to either carry something of what they want through - or to be a supporting party to the government, they always choose the role of supporting party. For instance in connection with the conflict about the salaries of the public employees this spring. The Danish People's Party were in on a majority vote to assure higher salaries to nurses, teachers, pedagogues, and policemen. But when they were faced with the choice between that and the current government, they chose to support the government.'
But how do you consider the co-operation with other parties in the parliament to be?
'We have tremendous co-operation with The Social Democrats, with whom we make a row of joint plans, and at the moment we are working together on all the central policies. We have made joint policies on integration and on municipal economy. And also on traffic issues, but this is not quite coordinated yet. There will be more joint policies in the time ahead. We want the Social Liberals to join.'
But when does the co-operation work? Have you experienced areas where you have met an obliging reception, where you had success in negociations with the blue block?
'It has been details. We have made an energy agreement - not a good energy agreement, but this was what we could pull out of it.'
Prime minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen lately announced that he had gone green. In that connection you did make positive statements. Do you think that he encroaches on your party issues?
'Yes, definitely. It is very clear where he got his inspiration from, namely The Socialist People's Party. But he is welcome. The important thing is not what he says. The important thing is what he is willing to carry through. And we are excited to follow the precedings. We want to participate in further negociations for better solutions on climate and the environment. So we will have to see if are aloud in. If he has the courage.'
So overall, how do you judge the democratic climate?
'It is bad in the parliament. It is bad policy to govern a country the size of Denmark on 50,1 percent of the votes. It helps to create completely unnecessary confrontations and conflicts. And it goes against the parliamentary tradition in Denmark of working together if you disagree.'
So far at least three of the eight parties currently in the Danish parliament criticize the democratic climate. In this 50-50 governance, paradoxically the critique comes from both sides of the parliament. Wonder if the sitting government senses the 'democratic flicker' at all?
For a more elaborate overview of the political scene in Denmark, please see:
http://paradoxicalnews.blogspot.com/2008/10/cliff-notes-to-danish-politics.html
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