This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-europe-14928312
The article has changed 14 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 4 | Version 5 |
---|---|
Denmark election: Centre-left head for narrow victory | |
(40 minutes later) | |
Denmark's centre-left opposition is heading for a narrow victory in a general election, partial results show. | |
With 90% of the vote counted, the "Red Bloc" of Social Democratic leader Helle Thorning-Schmidt is set to win 89 seats in the 179-strong parliament. | |
If confirmed, the result would make Ms Thorning-Schmidt Denmark's first woman prime minister. | |
The centre-right - supported by the anti-immigrant People's Party (DPP) - are predicted to take 86 seats. | |
The "Blue Bloc", currently led by Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen, have held power in Denmark for a decade. | |
The country has seen its worst economic downturn since World War II. | The country has seen its worst economic downturn since World War II. |
Although Denmark is a member of the EU, it has chosen not to adopt the euro. | Although Denmark is a member of the EU, it has chosen not to adopt the euro. |
'12 extra minutes' | |
Mr Rasmussen's liberal-conservative alliance has long relied on the 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, the main issue of the election is the health of the national finances. | |
Ms Thorning-Schmidt campaigned on a platform of tax rises and increased public spending, the BBC's Thomas Buch-Andersen in Copenhagen reports. | |
Although Mr Rasmussen is considered to have done well to steer Denmark through the financial crisis, its economic rebound is seen as sluggish and disappointing, our correspondent adds. | |
The economic crisis has turned Denmark's 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. | 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. | 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. |