PARLIAMENT ABOLISHES STORE BEDEDAG

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Public happy with abortion law

SOME 48 percent of Danes believe the abortion limit should not be raised above 12 weeks, according to an eOpinion survey for DR. Late abortions can be obtained by applying to an abortion council. Last year just 53 out of 803 applications were rejected.

Not a regular doctor check-up

ALL 9,750 INHABITANTS of Region of Southern Denmark town Grindsted have been invited to visit their doctor as fears of the effect of long-term local pollution continue to grow. From 1962 to 1975, a local chemical plant dumped tonnes of heavy metals, medicinal products and solvents into the earth, mixing with the groundwater.

TikTok ban

Cutting the public holiday will improve productivity, claims government

LOÏC PADOVANI

PARLIAMENT last week approved a bill to abolish the Store Bededag public holiday from 2024 onwards, even though an Epinion survey carried out for DR concludes that seven out of ten people in Denmark oppose the measure, and only 19 percent approve.

Traditionally held on the fourth Friday following Good Friday since 1686, it is a spring holiday most of the public keenly look forward to – one of three that fill the gap between Easter and the summer break in July.

However, while it has been argued before that Denmark could benefit from moving one of the holidays to a slot later in the year, the government sought to scrap it altogether to improve produc- tivity as part of its plans to spend more funds on defence. In total, it will raise 3 billion kroner for the state’s coffers.

No gentlemen’s agreement

THE GOVERNMENT took an 'all hands on deck' approach in light of the fierce opposition voiced by both left and rightwing parties.

Often, when a bill with an obvious majority is voted on, it is agreed that a balanced proportion of MPs do not need to vote – but in this case the environment minister, Magnus Heunicke, chose to stay in Denmark and vote, instead of joining the Crown Prince Couple on a business delegation in India.

The government was assured of the bill’s safe passage when Radikale confirmed it would lend its support, and it was passed by 95 votes to 68.

The result creates an extra school day, which is one too many apparently, so suggestions have been made that schools should take the Queen’s birthday on April 16 off instead.

Not May Day too!

IN RELATED news, it has emerged that Copenhagen’s mayor for employment and integration, Jens-Kristian Lütken, would also like to cut Labour Day as a holiday.

Since 1933, school children and public workers in Denmark’s biggest municipality have had the day off on May 1 – a “relic of the past” according to the local Venstre politician.

However, the Red Bloc parties did not agree, and a City Hall vote on March 2 quashed Lütken’s motion.

Copenhagen is one of relatively few municipalities in the Capital Region in which May 1 – International Workers’ Day – is an obligatory day off at the schools. Of the 34 municipalities in the capital area, only 11 have the day off, along with a further three nationwide.

PARLIAMENT has urged its members to avoid using TikTok on their work devices due to increasing cyber-security concerns that the Chinese state might be using it to obtain data. Likewise, Capital Region employees have been told to take it off their work phones.

Stork seen, so it’s spring …

A STORK was spotted in Jejsing in south Jutland on February 27 – a clear sign that spring has arrived, according to Danish folklore. The weather gods might disagree, as snow was forecast for most of the country at the time the story went to press.

Behold Aurora Borealis!

THE NORTHERN Lights were visible from many areas of Denmark on February 27 and 28. Visitors to beaches on the northern tip of Zealand got a good view of Aurora Borealis, and they were even sighted in Nordhavn.

Women to serve in Army

Rated highly for driving

DENMARK is the sixth best country to drive in, according to the Global Driver Satisfaction Index, a survey of internationals compiled by Moneybarn. It scored well for low congestion and good road infrastructure, but was let down by the high price of parking and petrol. Singapore, Japan, Turkey, Spain and Switzerland completed the top five, with Greece last.

Church exodus continuing

SOME 12,751 people left the church in 2022 – a 42 percent rise on 2021 and the most since 2017, according to Danmarks Statistik. The average age of the leavers was 39. At present, 72 percent of the population are members – down by 16 percentage points compared to 1986.

Wedding increase

THERE were 33,054 weddings in Denmark in 2022 – up 20 percent on 2021, according to Danmarks Statistik. Around 79 percent were getting married for the first time. The number of church weddings rose from 7,800 to 10,200. The divorce rate, meanwhile, fell by 5 percent to 12,319.

Minister on sick leave

JAKOB Ellemann-Jensen, the defence minister and head of Venstre, went on indefinite sick leave in early February following a health scare that resulted in him needing to visit hospital late last week. Troels Lund Poulsen has been acting defence minister in the meantime.

Four-day week at school

Not enough learning Danish!

DE DANSKE Sprogcentre, the language school interest group, has urged the government to try harder to encourage foreigners to speak Danish. Among its suggestions is abolishing the rule that prohibits internationals from obtaining free lessons once they have been here five years. Only 31 percent of foreigners who moved to Denmark in 2021 started lessons, it claims.

Plagued by potholes

THE COMBINATION of the wettest January in 150 years and freezing temperatures has left Denmark plagued by potholes – a road hazard difficult to see in the very conditions that cause them! Motorists are advised to inform their local municipalities of any significant potholes that appear on the roads.

Kids addicted to opioids

CHILDREN aged 14-17 are becoming addicted to dangerous opioids related to heroin such as Dolol (a pain relief prescription drug) and tramadol (an illegal euphoriant). For many, it is their first ‘high’, so they are leapfrogging cannabis altogether. A TV2 Kosmopol survey reveals 25 percent of the Danish municipalities are deeply concerned.

War on stealthing

THE JUSTICE minister, Peter Hummelgaard, wants to criminalise stealthing – the removal of a condom during intercourse without the approval of a sexual partner. The likes of Sex og Samfund and Everyday Sexism Project Denmark have been steadily campaigning for its criminalisation, arguing that stealthing is a form of sexual assault.

Non-EU spouse rethink

THE GOVERNMENT wants to reduce the required deposit payable by a Danish national in order to bring their non-EU spouse into Denmark from 100,000 to 50,000 kroner. Right-wing parties believe the sum must cover any benefits the spouses might claim. However, the government reasons that couples are forced to leave because it is too steep.

Racist to Greelanders

DENMARK has received a damning report from a Guatemalan official who assessed how well it is adhering to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in respect to Greenlandic Inuits. José Tzay reported “a high degree of racial discrimination in all public services they require”, according to P1 Morgen radio.

WOMEN should be available for conscription to the Danish Armed Forces, the defence minister, Jakob Ellemann-Jensen, has told TV2. Denmark can no longer afford to only accept volunteers – and everyone, including women, should be eligible, he said. Only 1 percent of all enlisted soldiers are forcefully conscripted.

National service lasts 4-12 months.

Busy month for Queen

QUEEN Margrethe is recovering after back surgery at Rigshospitalet on February 22. In her absence, the Crown Prince Couple, Prince Joachim or Princess Benedikte, will fill in for her. Earlier last month, a Weekendavisen interview revealed she thinks Putin has the coldest eyes she has ever seen, she’s unafraid of death, and that she doesn’t watch ‘The Crown’.

AALBORG Katedralskole will soon become the first school in Denmark to experiment with four-day school weeks. It will close on six selected Mondays, giving students and teachers a long weekend. The downside will be a summer holiday that is six days shorter.

Record low energy usage

THE PUBLIC demonstrated a talent for conserving energy in January, according to Energistyrelsen figures. Electricity and gas usage fell by 13 and 26 percent compared to normal, as consumers did their best to save energy and money.

Minister to face trial

CLAUS Hjort Frederiksen, the defence minister from 2016 to 2019, is pleading not guilty after being charged with sharing state secrets. The 75-year-old could not be tried when he was a serving MP, but he stepped down last year, kissing goodbye to his parliamentary immunity.