Freedom in the World 1999 - Denmark

1999 Scores

Status: Free
Freedom Rating: 1.0
Civil Liberties: 1
Political Rights: 1

Overview

Since March 1998, the prime Minister and leader of the Social Democrats, Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, has been heading his fourth government, a minority coalition comprising the Social Democrats and the Social-Liberal Party.

Speculation surrounding the date of the crucial vote as to whether Denmark is to join the European Monetary Union intensified after the polls indicated that more than 50 percent of the electorate would vote yes to the euro if the referendum were held in 1999. The government had initially pledged that the issue would not be on the agenda before the next general election in 2002, but the change in public attitude has allowed some politicians to propose spring of 2001 as the date for a promised referendum.

Denmark is the oldest monarchy in Europe. Queen Margrethe II, whose reign began in 1972, performs mostly ceremonial functions, such as appointing the premier and cabinet ministers after they have been chosen by parliamentary leaders. Denmark's first constitution was adopted 150 years ago and had been amended several times. The 1953 constitution established a unicameral parliament (Folketing), in which 135 of the 179 members are elected in 17 mainland districts. Two representatives from each of the autonomous regions of Faeroe Islands and Greenland are also elected. The remaining seats are allocated on a proportional basis to parties receiving more than two percent of the vote. An extensive system of local representation includes both regional and local councils.

Political Rights and Civil Liberties

Danes can change their government democratically. Representatives are elected to the Folketing at least once every four years in a modified system of proportional representation. On February 16, 1999 Greenland held its general elections to the 31-seat Home Rule parliament. Greenlend's prime minister, Jonathan Motzfeldt, and his Social Democrat Siumut Party, which has dominated politics on the island for the past 20 years, retained its control of Greenland's parliament despite losing 3 of the 14 seats it had previously held.

The Danish monarchy, whose role is largely ceremonial, still enjoys vast support among Danes. The left-of-center Socialist People's Party shocked the public this year by abandoning its 40-year-long campaign for the dissolution of the monarchy.

Danish media reflect a wide variety of political opinions and are frequently critical of the government. The state finances radio and television broadcasting, but state-owned television companies have independent editorial boards. Independent radio stations are permitted by the state but are tightly regulated.

The rights of racial, ethnic, and religious minorities are widely respected. The issue of discrimination against women wearing the hijab, a traditional Muslim head-covering, has been at the center of a growing legal controversy since the summer of 1999, when Denmark's two largest supermarkets were criticized for refusing to employ women with head-coverings. In August, the right-wing Danish People's Party, which has frequently been accused of racism, ordered the expulsion of 19 activists who were found to have links with neo-Nazi organizations.

Denmark is among the nations most tolerant of gay people. Ten years ago Denmark was the first country in the world to adopt legislation allowing homosexual partners the same legal rights as those afforded to married heterosexuals. A new proposal from the parliamentary committee on legal affairs would allow gay people to adopt their partner's children.

While freedom of worship is guaranteed to all, more than 90 percent of the population belongs to the state-supported Evangelical Lutheran Church of Denmark. In 1997, the church became the first to approve a religious ceremony for same-sex marriages.

Danes enjoy freedom of association and assembly, and workers are free to organize and strike. The vast majority of wage earners belong to trade unions and their umbrella organization, the Danish Federation of Trade Unions affiliated with the Social Democratic Party.

The independent judiciary includes approximately 100 local courts, two high courts, and a 15-member supreme court with judges appointed by the queen, on recommendation from the government.

Women constitute approximately 45 percent of labor force and generally hold 20 to 30 percent of national legislative seats.