2. Geography of Denmark
Location: Northern Europe, bordering the
Baltic Sea and the North Sea, on a
peninsula north of Germany (Jutland); also
comprises several big islands (Sjaelland,
Fyn, and Bornholm)
Area
Total: 43,094 sq km
Country comparison to the world: 134
Land: 42,434 sq km
Water: 660 sq km (note: includes the
island of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea and
the rest of metropolitan Denmark- the
Jutland Peninsula, and the big islands of
Sjaelland and Fyn), but not the Faroe
Islands and Greenland
Area – comparative: Slightly less than
twice the size of Massachusetts
Land boundaries
Total: 68 km
Border countries: Germany 68 km
Coastline: 7,314 km
4. Religion in Denmark
Christianity (specifically the
Evangelical Lutheran Church of
Denmark, the state religion) is, of
all the religions practiced in
Denmark, the most notable.
Nonetheless, bits of practically all
faiths can be spotted among the
population.
Islam, owing to immigration to
Denmark in the 1980s and 1990s,
is the second biggest religion.
On the whole, in contrast, Danes
are secular; church turnout is
usually low.
5. Religion statistics
Evangelical Lutheran (official): 95%
Other Christian (includes Protestant and Roman Catholic): 3%
Muslim: 2%
7. Background of Denmark’s political
system
The political system of Denmark functions in the structure of a
parliamentary, representative democracy.
The Kingdom of Denmark is a constitutional monarchy, where the
Monarch (currently Queen Margrethe II) serves as head of state.
The Cabinet government (regeringen), supervised by the PM
(statsminister), who is first among equals (Primus inter pares),
exercises executive power.
Legislative power is vested in both the executive and the national
parliament (Folketinget).
The Judiciary, officially nominated by the monarch and employed
until retirement, is independent.
8. Background of Denmark’s political
system – cont.
Denmark has a multi-party structure, with two or three strong parties,
and four or five other important parties.
No one party has had an absolute majority in the Folketing since the
early 20th century; no one party has created a government by itself
since 1982.
Because only four post-war coalition governments have enjoyed a
majority, government bills seldom become law without negotiations and
cooperation with both government and opposition parties; thus the
Folketing is often more powerful than legislatures in other EU states.
The constitution does not allow the judiciary power of judicial review of
legislation, but the courts have claimed this power with the permission
of the other branches of government.
As there are no constitutional or administrative courts in Denmark, the
Supreme Court handles a constitutional aspect.
9. Background of Denmark’s political
system – cont.
On a lot of issues, the political parties frequently opt in for a co-
operation; the Danish state welfare model is granted a large
parliamentary endorsement.
This guarantees a close look on public-sector effectiveness as well as
devolved obligations of local government on regional and municipal
levels.
The extent of precision and liability is reflected in the public’s high level
of approval with the political institutions.
On a regular basis, international organizations rank Denmark one of
the three least corrupt countries in the world, tied with New Zealand
and Finland.
10. Government of Denmark
Capital (and largest city):
Copenhagen
Official language(s): Danish
Recognized regional language(s):
Faroese, Greenlandic, German
Demonym: Danish, Dane
Government: Unitary parliamentary
constitutional monarchy
Monarch: Margrethe II
Prime Minister: Helle Thorning-
Schmidt
Speaker of the Folketing: Mogens
Lykketoft
Legislature: Folketing
11. Parties represented in the Folketing or the
European Parliament
Venstre (Venstre, Danmarks liberale
parti; Left, Denmark’s Liberal Party)
Social Democrats
(Socialdemokraterne)
Danish People’s Party (Dansk
Folkeparti)
Socialist People’s Party (Socialistisk
Folkeparti)
Conservative People’s Party (Det
Konservative Folkeparti)
Danish Social Liberal Party (Det
Radikale Venstre; Radical Left)
Red-Green Alliance (Enhedslisten)
Liberal Alliance (Liberal Alliance)
People’s Movement against the EU
(Folkebevægelsen mod EU)
12. Margrethe II
Born 16 April 1940 at the Amalienborg Palace
in Copenhagen.
Queen regnant of the Kingdom of Denmark.
As the oldest child of King Frederick IX and
Ingrid of Sweden, she succeeded her father
when he died on 14 January 1972; upon her
accession, she became Denmark’s first
female monarch since Margrethe I, ruler of
the Scandinavian countries from 1375-1412
during the Kalmar Union.
Was born in 1940, even though she did not
become heiress presumptive until 1953, when
a constitutional modification permitted women
to take over the throne (after it became
apparent that King Fredrick was implausible
to have any male issue).
Married Henri de Laborde de Monpezat in
1967; they have three sons: Crown Prince
Fredrick (born 1968) and Prince Joachim
(born 1969).
13. Helle Thorning-Schmidt
Born 14 December 1966 in Rødovre.
PM of Denmark since 3 October 2011 and
leader of the Social Democrats since 12
April 2005; is the first woman to hold either
position.
Was previously an MEP for Denmark
between 1999-2004 prior to her election to
the Danish Parliament in 2005; was
elected to replace Mogens Lykketoft as
leader of the Social Democrats following
the 2005 parliamentary election.
Led her party through the subsequent
2007 parliamentary election, which the
centre-right alliance claimed victory in, and
the 2011 parliamentary election, after
which she was named PM by Queen
Margrethe II.
Holds degrees in political science from the
University of Copenhagen and the College
of Europe.
14. Mogens Lykketoft
Born 9 January 1946 in Copenhagen.
Ex-government minister and current Speaker of the Folketing;
assumed office on 16 September 2011 after the 2011 Danish
parliamentary election the preceding day.
Succeeded ex-Danish PM Poul Nyrup Rasmussen as leader of the
Social Democratic party in December 2002.
Held posts as Finance Minister (25 January 1993-21 December 2000)
and Foreign Minister (21 December 2000-27 November 2001) in the
cabinets of Poul Nyrup Rasmussen I, II, III and IV (which governed
from 1993-2001).
Resigned as leader of the Social Democratic party following that
party’s defeat in the 2005 Danish parliamentary election.
Is the son of paint dealer Axel Lykketoft and Martha Lykketoft.
Holds a degree in economics from the University of Copenhagen
(1971).
Was Minister for Taxation from 20 January 1981-10 September 1982.
Has served the posts, within his party, of Foreign Policy Spokesman
from 2005, chairman of his party (2002-2005), economic and political
affairs spokesman and finance policy spokesman (1988-1991), and
political spokesman twice (1991-1993 and 2001-2002); has been a
member of various bodies such as the Income Tax Committee (1975-
1977), the Board of Assessors twice (1976-1981 and 1984-1993),
chairman of the Folketing’s Fiscal Affairs Committee (1984-1986), the
Folketing’s Trade and Industry Committee (1987-1988), and of the
Folketing’s Economic and Political Affairs Committee (1988-1990).
Was also head of department at the Economic Council of the Labour
Movement (1975-1981).
15. Venstre
Conservative-liberal political party in Denmark.
Founded as part of a peasants movement in opposition to the
landed aristocracy; advocates an economic liberal pro-free market
ideology in the modern day, is Denmark’s major centre-right party,
and its biggest party.
Previously ruled in coalition with the Conservative People’s Party,
with backing from the Danish People’s Party.
Won 26.7% of the vote, and 47/179 seats, in the 2011
parliamentary elections; is currently led by Lars Løkke
Rasmussen, who took over as both party leader and PM from
Anders Fogh Rasmussen (with whom he has no relation;
Rasmussen is a common name in Denmark) in 2009.
Is a liberal party within the Nordic agrarian ritual, although today it
is prominently more pro-free market than its sister parties.
Some classify Venstre as classical liberal, because Anders Fogh
Rasmussen, its leader from 1998-2009, is acknowledged for his
authorship of the book From Social State to Minimal State (Fra
socialstat til minimalstat); that book spoke in favor of an extensive
change of the Danish welfare state on classical liberal lines, such
as lower taxes and less government intervention in corporate and
individual issues.
In subsequent years, Anders Fogh Ramussen has abanodoned
his earlier views, calling liberalism an out-of-date idealogy.
Member of Liberal International (International affiliation) and the
Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party (European
affiliation).
Three MEPs from Denmark are members of Venstre; they sit
alongside the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe group
in the EP.
16. Social Democrats
Danish political party devoted to the political ideology of
social democracy.
Has been the senior coalition partner in government since
the 2011 parliamentary election, with party leader Helle
Thorning-Schmidt as PM.
Is the second-biggest party in the Folketing; has 44/179
seats.
Founded by Louis Pio in 1871; first entered the Folketing in
1884.
By the early 20th century, it became the party with the
biggest representation in the Folketing, a distinction it went
on to hold for 77 years.
First created a government in 1924, under Thorvald
Stauning, the longest-serving Danish PM of the 20th century.
Put forth a profound effect on Danish society under
Stauning’s government, bringing about the establishment of
the Danish welfare state.
Member of Socialist International (International affiliation),
Party of European Socialists (European affiliation), and
Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (EP
group); the Social Democrats have four MEPs in the EP, an
increase of three after the 2004 election.
Gained an additional MEP in March 2013: Emilie Turunen
left the Socialist People’s Party in favor of Social
Democrats.
