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| Denmark votes in general election as economy falters | Denmark votes in general election as economy falters |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Voters in Denmark have been casting their ballots in a general election dominated by concerns over the economy. | |
| Opinion polls suggest the ruling centre-right coalition faces a tough challenge after a decade in power. | Opinion polls suggest the ruling centre-right coalition faces a tough challenge after a decade in power. |
| Denmark, a member of the EU but not the eurozone, has seen its worst economic downturn since Word War II. | Denmark, a member of the EU but not the eurozone, has seen its worst economic downturn since Word War II. |
| While the left-leaning opposition appeared to be heading for victory early in the race, the gap with the ruling parties narrowed in recent days. | While the left-leaning opposition appeared to be heading for victory early in the race, the gap with the ruling parties narrowed in recent days. |
| Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen's liberal-conservative "blue bloc" has long relied controversially on a nationalist party, the Danish People's Party (DPP), to push legislation through parliament. | |
| The recent decision of Denmark, a Schengen state, to reimpose border controls came after pressure from the DPP, the third-biggest party in parliament. | The recent decision of Denmark, a Schengen state, to reimpose border controls came after pressure from the DPP, the third-biggest party in parliament. |
| However, correspondents say the main issue of the election is the health of the national finances. | However, correspondents say the main issue of the election is the health of the national finances. |
| The economic crisis has turned healthy surpluses into deficits, estimated to climb to 4.6% of GDP next year. | The economic crisis has turned healthy surpluses into deficits, estimated to climb to 4.6% of GDP next year. |
| Local banks have also been struggling, with nine taken over by the state since the start of the crisis in 2008. | Local banks have also been struggling, with nine taken over by the state since the start of the crisis in 2008. |
| Helle Thorning-Schmidt, leader of the opposition "red bloc", has accused Mr Rasmussen of failing to spur growth and allowing the deficit to grow. | |
| 'Lost ground' | |
| Many Copenhagen residents headed to vote before going to work - long queues were reported outside polling station in districts like the working-class area of Valby. | |
| Lars Munck, a 53-year-old union representative, said he was disappointed with the government's economic policies and would vote for Ms Thorning-Schmidt's Social Democrats. | |
| "Denmark has lost ground on a lot of areas compared to other European countries - our ability to create jobs, and on education, for instance," he said. | |
| But businessman Bjarke Soerensen, 41, told the Associated Press news agency he would prefer to keep Mr Rasmussen as prime minister because the Social Democrat leader was "not credible". | |
| Speaking on election day, Ms Thorning-Schmidt told reporters: "We can say farewell to 10 years of bourgeois rule that has stalled and get a new government and a new majority in Denmark." | |
| Twelve minutes | Twelve minutes |
| She advocates increased government spending, along with an unusual plan to make everyone work 12 minutes more per day, Reuters news agency reports. | She advocates increased government spending, along with an unusual plan to make everyone work 12 minutes more per day, Reuters news agency reports. |
| An extra hour of productivity each week, it is argued, would help kick-start growth. | An extra hour of productivity each week, it is argued, would help kick-start growth. |
| "Denmark needs change, Denmark needs to move on and Denmark needs my leadership," Ms Thorning-Schmidt said. | "Denmark needs change, Denmark needs to move on and Denmark needs my leadership," Ms Thorning-Schmidt said. |
| If the left wins, she is tipped to become Denmark's first woman prime minister. | If the left wins, she is tipped to become Denmark's first woman prime minister. |
| The Social Democrat leader is a former MEP and married to Stephen Kinnock, son of British Labour Party politicians Neil and Glenys Kinnock. | The Social Democrat leader is a former MEP and married to Stephen Kinnock, son of British Labour Party politicians Neil and Glenys Kinnock. |
| Mr Rasmussen advocates austerity measures, including an end to the early retirement system. | Mr Rasmussen advocates austerity measures, including an end to the early retirement system. |
| "In the middle of a worldwide crisis, Danes are faced with a clear choice: uncontrolled debt or permanent welfare," he said on Wednesday. | "In the middle of a worldwide crisis, Danes are faced with a clear choice: uncontrolled debt or permanent welfare," he said on Wednesday. |
| However, before casting his vote on Thursday, he said: "It is going to be a tight race. We will fight to the end." | |
| The politician is widely known by his middle name Lokke in part because he is Denmark's third prime minister in a row to have the surname Rasmussen, although the three are not related. |