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Denmark election: Exit polls point to centre-left win | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Exit polls in Denmark's general election suggest a narrow win for the centre-left opposition, taking at least 89 out of 179 seats. | |
If confirmed, the result would make Social Democratic leader Helle Thorning-Schmidt Denmark's first woman prime minister. | |
The centre-right has held power in Denmark for a decade, supported by the anti-immigrant People's Party. | |
The country has seen its worst economic downturn since World War II. | |
The poll by Denmark's national broadcaster DR, based on half the votes cast, predicted the centre-left bloc would get at least 89 seats, while the centre-right would take 86. | |
Commercial TV2 gave the centre-left 92 seats to the governing bloc's 87. | |
Although Denmark is a member of the EU, it has chosen not to adopt the euro. | |
Earlier exit polls, released two hours after the end of voting, showed Ms Thorning-Schmidt's "red bloc" with a seven-seat advantage over the centre-right government coalition led by Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen. | |
Mr Rasmussen's liberal-conservative "blue bloc" has long relied on a nationalist party, the Danish People's Party (DPP), to push legislation through parliament. | Mr Rasmussen's liberal-conservative "blue bloc" has long relied 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. |
Ms Thorning-Schmidt has accused Mr Rasmussen of failing to spur growth and allowing the deficit to grow. | Ms Thorning-Schmidt has accused Mr Rasmussen of failing to spur growth and allowing the deficit to grow. |
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, the Social Democrats argue, 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. |
The Social Democrat leader is a former MEP (member of the European Parliament) 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. |
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. | 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. |