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Helle Thorning-Schmidt to be Danish PM after poll win | Helle Thorning-Schmidt to be Danish PM after poll win |
(40 minutes later) | |
Denmark's centre-left has won the country's general election, ending nearly a decade in opposition. | |
With nearly all votes counted, the bloc led by Social Democrat leader Helle Thorning-Schmidt was headed for a narrow majority in parliament. | With nearly all votes counted, the bloc led by Social Democrat leader Helle Thorning-Schmidt was headed for a narrow majority in parliament. |
She is set to become Denmark's first woman prime minister. Incumbent Lars Lokke Rasmussen has admitted defeat. | She is set to become Denmark's first woman prime minister. Incumbent Lars Lokke Rasmussen has admitted defeat. |
Ms Thorning-Schmidt had campaigned on a platform of tax rises and increased public spending. | Ms Thorning-Schmidt had campaigned on a platform of tax rises and increased public spending. |
She also promised to roll back tough immigration laws proposed by a junior partner of the current coalition. | |
With almost all the votes counted, the centre-left bloc had taken 89 seats in Denmark's 179-seat parliament against 86 for the centre-right. | |
"We did it... today we've written history," Ms Thorning-Schmidt told jubilant supporters. | |
Mr Rasmussen said he had called Ms Thorning-Schmidt to congratulate her, but added: "Tonight I hand over the keys to the prime minister's office to Helle Thorning-Schmidt. And dear Helle, take good care of them. You're only borrowing them." | |
The "Blue Bloc" led by Mr Rasmussen has held power in Denmark for a decade. | |
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. | |
'12 extra minutes' | '12 extra minutes' |
Mr Rasmussen's liberal-conservative alliance has long relied on the anti-immigrant People's Party (DPP) to push legislation through parliament. | Mr Rasmussen's liberal-conservative alliance has long relied on the anti-immigrant 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, the main issue of the election has been the health of the national finances. | However, the main issue of the election has been 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. | 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 was 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. | 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. |