The Socialist People's Party (F) held their annual congress in Odense this weekend. And my, oh my have they come far from the original socialist perception of what politics is all about. Some 700 members joined the three-day congress to listen to the new party line - and to give their views in return. They were all there, from the eternal student protesters to the blue collar workers and the small entrepreneurs to the school teachers, health care workers, and the creative class representatives. And although this leaves probably the widest range to bridge in any Danish political party, the congress showed that it could be done. As long as they have fuzzy political party leader Villy Søvndal to join the forces. With the sole purpose of going after the power of government with Social Democrat leader Helle Thorning-Schmidt (A) at the next election, to be held no later than in 2011.
Villy Søvndal himself confirmed to PN that this new line was strictly in order to make the party fit for government. And for this purpose the country management team had to be strengthened, leaving less to endless debates as is the tradition within the party. Ole Sohn, group leader at Christiansborg, now financial spokesperson for the party - and a former member of the Communist party - paradoxically stressed the new line of co-operation with private companies in the less populated areas to bring back economic growth and ensuring livelyhoods in these areas. Mainly through investments in education and job creation within the health care, energy and environment areas.
Member of the parliamentary presidium, spokesperson for defence issues, and formerly party leader - Holger K. Nielsen found that the party had always bridged very far, and fully supported the new line in order to go for government power. Several party members around the country and Christiansborg parliament members supported the new bridging line, but also stressed the need for continued focus on the poor and weak people in all areas of the country - not just in sparsely populated outskirts of the country. Among them spokesperson for social issues, Özlem Cekic. But also she supported the new party line.
An election was carried out to form a new country management team. PN asked around among the delegates and members on election, and the opinions varied much. Some found that a professionalised management of less than twenty people would ease the decision making process over the classic board of close to forty people and an elaborate local committee system. One former country board member stressed the need for a professional election of people for the country management team consisting of all kinds of representatives, all parts of the country, male-female, and most importantly stressed the need for participants from various counselling organs, NGO's, and other political interest groups. And others found that this very part of the change would damage the democratic process within the party, and leave a huge gap and a top-down decision making process.
Still, all members found that these complications were subject to heading for actual decision making power - as a government party. Paradoxically the smell of power is sweet, even to the protesters by definition.
Villy Søvndal himself confirmed to PN that this new line was strictly in order to make the party fit for government. And for this purpose the country management team had to be strengthened, leaving less to endless debates as is the tradition within the party. Ole Sohn, group leader at Christiansborg, now financial spokesperson for the party - and a former member of the Communist party - paradoxically stressed the new line of co-operation with private companies in the less populated areas to bring back economic growth and ensuring livelyhoods in these areas. Mainly through investments in education and job creation within the health care, energy and environment areas.
Member of the parliamentary presidium, spokesperson for defence issues, and formerly party leader - Holger K. Nielsen found that the party had always bridged very far, and fully supported the new line in order to go for government power. Several party members around the country and Christiansborg parliament members supported the new bridging line, but also stressed the need for continued focus on the poor and weak people in all areas of the country - not just in sparsely populated outskirts of the country. Among them spokesperson for social issues, Özlem Cekic. But also she supported the new party line.
An election was carried out to form a new country management team. PN asked around among the delegates and members on election, and the opinions varied much. Some found that a professionalised management of less than twenty people would ease the decision making process over the classic board of close to forty people and an elaborate local committee system. One former country board member stressed the need for a professional election of people for the country management team consisting of all kinds of representatives, all parts of the country, male-female, and most importantly stressed the need for participants from various counselling organs, NGO's, and other political interest groups. And others found that this very part of the change would damage the democratic process within the party, and leave a huge gap and a top-down decision making process.
Still, all members found that these complications were subject to heading for actual decision making power - as a government party. Paradoxically the smell of power is sweet, even to the protesters by definition.