NationStates Jolt Archive

On the 13th, to be precise.

This is interesting because there's been something foul going on there for a while now. The current government is kept in place by the support of the "People's Party" which basically runs an anti-immigrant platform. Because they're the kingmakers, they've been able to extract concessions. But now someone is vowing to end that: Naser Khader (http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,516492,00.html).

He's half Syrian, half Palestinian and all Danish. He created a new party called "New Alliance", based on support in the Muslim community and beyond. Since he did that in May, he's been bringing one new proposal after the other, shaking things up quite a bit. The stated goal is to break the strangehold the People's Party has over the government by taking a large enough number of seats to be able to become the kingmaker instead.

I quite like this. One reason for why xenophobes have been able to entrench themselves in public in so many European countries is because immigrants remain conspicuously absent. It's a lot easier to rant on about "cultures" when you don't have to look a human being in the eye and tell them they're somehow different and unwelcome. More than any new immigration law and any native language course what Europe needs is a few leaders from the immigrant communities who will take the stage and make a difference.

So I wish all the best to the New Alliance Party.

Excellent. Good luck to Khader, even if I may not quite share all his political views.

The only thing better than a cherry danish or a cheese danish is a cherry-cheese danish. :)

Whilst I too wish all the best to them, I'm not going to vote for them.

Then there's also the fact that, yes, they have declared themselves an opposite to Dansk Folkeparti, but no, that's not their purpose. Their main stated goal is to bring taxes down to 40%. However, they have, thus far, failed to explain how they would do this. That brings up the worrying concern that they haven't quite considered the consequences it could have to spend the same amount of money, while taking away the income. I don't really mind the idea of going down in tax, but then you have to go down in spending and a majority in Denmark still aren't ready or willing for that.

Hence why I'm voting for the other party on the other side of the spectrum that also declares itself an opposite to Dansk Folkeparti: Radikale Venstre (wiki says: Danish Social Liberal Party or Radical Liberal Party). They too want to bring down income taxes, but do seem to have slightly better ideas on how to do so, especially since their focus remains on the welfare state.

Still, New Alliance is making this a very interesting election.

I quite like this. One reason for why xenophobes have been able to entrench themselves in public in so many European countries is because immigrants remain conspicuously absent. It's a lot easier to rant on about "cultures" when you don't have to look a human being in the eye and tell them they're somehow different and unwelcome. More than any new immigration law and any native language course what Europe needs is a few leaders from the immigrant communities who will take the stage and make a difference.

So I wish all the best to the New Alliance Party.I hate to say this, but it's bollox. Nicely perfumed shit, but shit all the same. Check out their platform and check out the history that resulted in the People's Party becoming the kingmakers. I'd suggest you start in 1970 and work your way up to the present.

Now to predict the future: New Alliance, if they manage to get the desired votes, will exaggerate the problems in the long term.

Danes if you want to do something about the problem, vote for the Socialist People's Party (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialist_People%27s_Party_%28Denmark%29) or to the left of it. Those don't just pander to the "be nice" types, they actually propose to do something about the problems that made xenophobia an issue. New Alliance does nothing of the sort. On the contrary, they're against trying to lift your new lower class out of the shit and social problems the last 40 years of Danish governments have sunk them in.

Danes if you want to do something about the problem, vote for the Socialist People's Party (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialist_People%27s_Party_%28Denmark%29) or to the left of it.
Bring down the system! *sets fire to stuff*

Seriously though, I wasn't trying to get anyone to vote any particular way. The tax policy isn't my issue either - I certainly support lower taxes, but that wasn't the reason I posted this. The People's Party and others like it have just been an irritation to me for a long time. I know enough about history to know why we didn't have them for a while, and the fact that they've managed to come back is not a good thing. I applaud anyone willing to stand up to that trend, because I'd hate never being able to return to Europe because the place becomes a museum of 1930's oddities.

Bring down the system! *sets fire to stuff*

Seriously though, I wasn't trying to get anyone to vote any particular way. The tax policy isn't my issue either - I certainly support lower taxes, but that wasn't the reason I posted this. The People's Party and others like it have just been an irritation to me for a long time. I know enough about history to know why we didn't have them for a while, and the fact that they've managed to come back is not a good thing. I applaud anyone willing to stand up to that trend, because I'd hate never being able to return to Europe because the place becomes a museum of 1930's oddities.

Well, I count about four out of nine parties you could vote for in counter of the People's party. As one poster said, anything left of and including the Socialist People's Party or, as you said, New Alliance.

To claim that New Alliance has the immigration issue as their top priority, however, is wrong.

Bring down the system! *sets fire to stuff*The Socialist People's Party isn't some revolutionary fringe party, they're the Danish Social democrats and have been ever since the Social Democrats stopped being it about 15 years ago. The Red-Green Alliance (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red-Green_Alliance_%28Denmark%29) are about as close as you come to left-wing revolutionaries, and even that isn't a small party. And of course, they too want to actually do something about the cause of the situation, not just spew pointless platitudes.I applaud anyone willing to stand up to that trend, because I'd hate never being able to return to Europe because the place becomes a museum of 1930's oddities.That's why I made the post. Assuming that any enemy of your enemy is your friend, is foolish. New Alliance won't improve the situation, because they're dead set against trying to resolve the immigration problems. Their platform is basically that "problems don't exist and you're a bastard if you don't buy into our pretense".

40 years ago, the Danish lower class virtually didn't exist anymore. Into this came 40 years of failed policies creating a new lower class consisting almost exclusively of people with a different ethnicity. Considering people's tendency to be xenophobic, and how non-native ethnicities tends to exaggerate the social problems created by a lower class, it's surprising the xenophobic sentiment in the population isn't more extreme than is the case. But a kingmaker that proposes to change this, while refusing to do something about this new lower class, ultimately can't do anything but exacerbate the situation.

Don't applaud just anyone. Make sure they're not halfwits, busy shitting in their own shoes, before you start clapping.

The Socialist People's Party isn't some revolutionary fringe party, they're the Danish Social democrats and have been ever since the Social Democrats stopped being it about 15 years ago. The Red-Green Alliance (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red-Green_Alliance_%28Denmark%29) are about as close as you come to left-wing revolutionaries, and even that isn't a small party. And of course, they too want to actually do something about the cause of the situation, not just spew pointless platitudes.That's why I made the post. Assuming that any enemy of your enemy is your friend, is foolish. New Alliance won't improve the situation, because they're dead set against trying to resolve the immigration problems. Their platform is basically that "problems don't exist and you're a bastard if you don't buy into our pretense".

What counts as a small party, if I might ask?

Breaking up a xenophobic stranglehold on government: good
Replacing said xenophobes by a political block backed by a dedicated religious community: not so good

Their platform is basically that "problems don't exist and you're a bastard if you don't buy into our pretense".


That's not what it says in Der Spiegel's article:


Instead of placing asylum-seekers in hostels, Khader proposes that they live in the heart of society, where they should also be allowed to work. He criticizes the anti-foreigner policies of the Danish People's Party and demands that Denmark meet its humanitarian responsibilities and offer protection to refugees. His latest proposal is that Iraqi refugees whose applications for asylum have been turned down should be allowed to remain in Denmark for at least two years. And if the situation in Iraq fails to improve, he would also have them stay longer.

At the same time, Khader would like to see regular immigration linked to Denmark's economic situation and the requirements of the country's labor market. His political message could be summed up as "strict but humane." The party platform holds that successful integration also depends on the numbers of immigrants who come to Denmark.

I hope that the DF continues on with their popularity!

The party's policies include:

To drastically reduce immigration, especially on non-western immigrants

To improve conditions for the elderly

To oppose a reduction of Denmark's sovereignty by the EU

To maintain the monarchy, and the current Danish constitution

Stricter punishments on rape, violence and reckless driving

To oppose a multiethnic Danish society

Grants for specific research into terrorism, islamism and cold-war history
To continue the current status of the National Church

"Cooperation with the Conservative-Liberal coalition government resulted in the implementation of some of their key demands, such as strong anti-immigration policies resulting in what has been described as Europe's strictest immigration laws."

The Danish People's Party OWNS Sweden and makes an example of how Sweden's failure with multicultural policies should NOT become Denmark's future. I couldn't agree more:

The changes to Denmark's immigration laws drew some criticism from the former social democratic government of Sweden, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the Council of Europe's human rights commissioner. In a response to the criticism from the Swedish government Pia Kjaersgaard said: "If they want to turn Stockholm, Gothenburg or Malmö into a Scandinavian Beirut, with clan wars, honour killings and gang rapes, let them do it. We can always put a barrier on the Øresund Bridge."[5] Although the latter remark about the Øresund Bridge was ironically intended. The remark was offensive to many Swedes, which led to claims that it was merely "ironically intended".

And to their ever-growing popularity:

The DPP have been met with controversy from the other parties and from the press ever since the party was founded. However, starting with a modest number of votes, the party has grown at every single election since then. While immigration policy is central to the aims of the party, other issues are thought to have added to the popularity of the party:

Ideological Novelty: The DPP combines support of the welfare state, and particularly benefits for pensioners, with strongly conservative policies on immigration and law and order. As such it is distinctive from the mainstream parties and offers policies which appeal across the traditional right-left dividing line. Polls have shown that a great deal of the party's voters are former Social Democrats, concerned with the decline of the welfare state. An analysis by the trade union SiD after the 2001 election stated that among unskilled workers aged under 40, 30% voted for DPP and only 25% for the Social Democrats. [16] Euroscepticism: In Denmark, only two parties have been against all new EU treaties throughout their existence. Those parties are DPP and the left-wing Enhedslisten. Whereas most politicians favour a more dominant EU, public opinion is broadly skeptical and in favour of the nation state keeping its powers. Referendums brought the rejection of the Maastricht treaty and the Euro. The DPP has managed to harness this scepticism in a more popular way than left-wingers.
Outspokenness: Pia Kjærsgaard, a former domestic nurse, is perceived to be different from "the traditional political class of economists and academics" and claims to appeal to the "common man". In combination with her programmatic hostility to non-Western immigration and Islam, this has given her strong support among workers and lower middle class voters, who feel threatened by the potential job-displacement caused by immigration.

http://www.appliedlanguage.com/flags_of_the_world/large_flag_of_denmark.gif
http://i2-images.tv2.dk/s/42/778742-1d7cc6f9c5535370e35a38d8ea68ceee.jpeg

I hope that the DF continues on with their popularity!

8% of 4 million is not popular! Learn it! (10% of 80% = 8%). Rough numbers.

May the populist bastards be swept away from their "kingmaker" position forever, and fade away into obscurity.

What counts as a small party, if I might ask?Below 5%. Which makes the Red-Greens small, sorry my info was outdated.That's not what it says in Der Spiegel's article:It's not what New Alliance says either, but it doesn't make it true. Same way that me saying a pig just flew by my window doesn't make it true.

For the anti-ghetto idea to be possible, would require funding and a tax reform, both of which New Alliance are against. Unfortunately there's more to it than just being self-contradicting. Immigrants wants to live near their peers, just like everyone else. Countering that would require a constitutional change.

Citizens or not, nobody living in Denmark has the right to work. That makes the public sector the ideal entry point into the labour market for immigrants. New Alliance is against the economic restructuring required to make that possible, and are opposed to the state discriminating against the parts of the private sector that does not hire immigrants, when the state buys services. And of course, New Alliance are against restructuring and increased funding of re-schooling of immigrants.

Basically, New Alliance ought to be called Hot Air.

As for TAi, why not just email DNSB and tell them to run in the next election? At least they don't pretend not to be Nazis.

EDIT:8% of 4 million is not popular! Learn it! (10% of 80% = 8%). Rough numbers.Rubbish. As far as liberal democrazies go, Denmark is somewhat representative. "Popular" does not mean 10 or 20 or 30% of the votes. 2% of the votes is enough for a seat in parliament. To say a party with 4 times that many votes isn't popular is just silly.

EDIT:Rubbish. As far as liberal democrazies go, Denmark is somewhat representative. "Popular" does not mean 10 or 20 or 30% of the votes. 2% of the votes is enough for a seat in parliament. To say a party with 4 times that many votes isn't popular is just silly.

Look, no one is stupid enough to say that "Enhedslisten" is popular. Furthermore, much like "Enhedslisten", "Dansk Folkeparti" is hated by pretty much everyone but themselves. The two parties they cooperate with do not want to cooperate with them if they could form a government without them.

They are not popular! The only two popular parties are Social Demokraterne or Venstre, which both have above 20%. The other parties are smaller, non-populist parties (yes, while some people would call Dansk Folkeparti populist, they are not).

They are not popular! The only two popular parties are Social Demokraterne or Venstre, which both have above 20%.You're right! And The artist formerly known as the artist formerly known as Prince isn't popular either! After all, less than 20% of the global population own his albums!

Mate.. Popular means prevailing among the people generally. Any party above your lower limit is per fuckin' definition a popular party. The People's Party has roughly four times that approval. There's a difference between the most popular party and a popular party. Nobody claimed the People's Party was ever the most popular party - though I seem to remember it being in the top three in opinion polls a few years ago, to my dismay.

I'll grant you the Red-Greens are a small party. If you look back, you'll see I already conceded as much in the post you responded to.

A voice of dissent is always a good thing to have. If the DF are right and really have the support of the people, then they'll have to really prove it, rather than just coasting along on without challenge.

http://www.theage.com.au/news/World/Danish-election-set-to-reshape-govt/2007/11/12/1194766562831.html

The most recent article says that Rasmussen basically has nothing on the Social Democrats anymore, meaning it all comes down to the kingmakers, no matter what. That will be either the People's Party or New Alliance. Here goes nothing...

http://www.theage.com.au/news/World/Danish-election-set-to-reshape-govt/2007/11/12/1194766562831.html

The most recent article says that Rasmussen basically has nothing on the Social Democrats anymore, meaning it all comes down to the kingmakers, no matter what. That will be either the People's Party or New Alliance. Here goes nothing...
And hopefully the DF pulls out the win. There is no need for Denmark to fall ill to the same symptoms Sweden has...and your article says it's an issue with the welfare state, which the DF also supports (see my previous post).

Mate.. Popular means prevailing among the people generally. Any party above your lower limit is per fuckin' definition a popular party. The People's Party has roughly four times that approval. There's a difference between the most popular party and a popular party. Nobody claimed the People's Party was ever the most popular party - though I seem to remember it being in the top three in opinion polls a few years ago, to my dismay.
Well, I mean they are the 3rd most popular part, which does make them popular, just not, as you said, the most popular. Give them time.....

(Numbers of votes/percent/seats/increase or decrease)
Liberals (Venstre) (V) Anders Fogh Rasmussen 974,657 29.0 52 −4


Social Democrats (Socialdemokraterne) (A) Mogens Lykketoft 867,933 25.9
47 −5

Danish People's Party (Dansk Folkeparti) (O) Pia Kjærsgaard 444,205 13.2 24 2

Also here is an opinion poll, which I admit, can never be truley trusted but still, interesting to view:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danish_parliamentary_election%2C_2007#Opinion_polls
May the populist bastards be swept away from their "kingmaker" position forever, and fade away into obscurity.
Eh, why? "Oh no...the evil Danish Nationalists who want what's best for Denmark!!??!?".....:rolleyes:

As for TAi, why not just email DNSB and tell them to run in the next election? At least they don't pretend not to be Nazis.
Three very very good reasons. Ready?
1. I'm not a nazi.
2. DF is not a nazi party.
3. DNSB IS a nazi party.

All clear?

Well, I mean they are the 3rd most popular part, which does make them popular, just not, as you said, the most popular. Give them time.....

They probably won't be after this election though. Probably. But we'll see. They're actually getting more run for their money from the Socialist People's Party, who may more than double in mandates.

Eh, why? "Oh no...the evil Danish Nationalists who want what's best for Denmark!!??!?".....:rolleyes:

What's best for Denmark right now is to get more of a workforce. They'll strangle the economy with their plans.

2. DF is not a nazi party.

Debatable. Do you know their history?

They're an offshoot of a party that quite literally suggested taking immigrants, flying them off to their country of origin and dumping them out without a parachute.

Ever since, they've been trying to repeal those elements of the party, because they realize that being so blatant about their viewpoint is, in fact, bad for their popularity.

3. DNSB IS a nazi party.

Yes they are. They haven't ever really been in power, fortunately.

One thing to consider. Perhaps the most pro argument for immigration is the economical benefit. This seems not to apply to Denmark.

"Refugee, Immigration and Integration Minister Bertel Haarder said: "We think the proposed measures will allow us to reduce the number (of asylum seekers) in order to concentrate on the integration of those who live in our country… Foreigners today represent a net burden on society. They cost more than they give back. This must be changed."
http://migration.ucdavis.edu/mn/more.php?id=2561_0_4_0

And given the problems they have w/ their immigrants, I see no logical/pragmatic reason to be pro-immigrant in Denmark.

"Refugee, Immigration and Integration Minister Bertel Haarder said: "We think the proposed measures will allow us to reduce the number (of asylum seekers) in order to concentrate on the integration of those who live in our country… Foreigners today represent a net burden on society. They cost more than they give back. This must be changed."
http://migration.ucdavis.edu/mn/more.php?id=2561_0_4_0

He's the same guy who claims that nurses earn more than they did twenty years ago, despite them never having seen a wage increase in ages.

He's also the same guy that claims that by reducing taxes, people will go to work. That's kinda hard, when everyone who can and will work, is already working.

He's also the same guy that claims that the student grants are enough to cover all expenses.

Sorry if I don't quite trust him, but he doesn't seem all that good at economics.

Edit: Your article also plainly sucks. Foreigners who have acquired Danish Citizenship ARE NOT FOREIGNERS (in Denmark)

They probably won't be after this election though. Probably. But we'll see. They're actually getting more run for their money from the Socialist People's Party, who may more than double in mandates.
We'll see what happens. Did you take a look at that opinion poll?


What's best for Denmark right now is to get more of a workforce. They'll strangle the economy with their plans.
What is important for Denmark is to not become any more multicultural. The strict immigration WORKS for Denmark and Denmark needs it. Denmark's economy has hardle been strangled these past years since the DF convinced Denmark to give itself the strictest immigration in the EU.....

Do you know their history?
Only that it came from the Fremskridtspartiet, which also was not a nazi party, just a right wing party. (Economic liberal, socially, right, it seemed)

They're an offshoot of a party that quite literally suggested taking immigrants, flying them off to their country of origin and dumping them out without a parachute.
I've never heard of this, show me. And even if it's true, things change. The DF is hardly suggesting this now. All it is saying is "Denmark, we do NOT have to import the worlds problems here at the expense of our soceity. Multiculturalism does NOT work for us."

For this they are champions.

Ever since, they've been trying to repeal those elements of the party, because they realize that being so blatant about their viewpoint is, in fact, bad for their popularity.
Their immigration policies have added alot to their popularity. Check this out:
The DPP have been met with controversy from the other parties and from the press ever since the party was founded. However, starting with a modest number of votes, the party has grown at every single election since then. While immigration policy is central to the aims of the party, other issues are thought to have added to the popularity of the party:

Ideological Novelty: The DPP combines support of the welfare state, and particularly benefits for pensioners, with strongly conservative policies on immigration and law and order. As such it is distinctive from the mainstream parties and offers policies which appeal across the traditional right-left dividing line. Polls have shown that a great deal of the party's voters are former Social Democrats, concerned with the decline of the welfare state. An analysis by the trade union SiD after the 2001 election stated that among unskilled workers aged under 40, 30% voted for DPP and only 25% for the Social Democrats. [16]
Euroscepticism: In Denmark, only two parties have been against all new EU treaties throughout their existence. Those parties are DPP and the left-wing Enhedslisten. Whereas most politicians favour a more dominant EU, public opinion is broadly skeptical and in favour of the nation state keeping its powers. Referendums brought the rejection of the Maastricht treaty and the Euro. The DPP has managed to harness this scepticism in a more popular way than left-wingers.
Outspokenness: Pia Kjærsgaard, a former domestic nurse, is perceived to be different from "the traditional political class of economists and academics" and claims to appeal to the "common man". In combination with her programmatic hostility to non-Western immigration and Islam, this has given her strong support among workers and lower middle class voters, who feel threatened by the potential job-displacement caused by immigration.



Yes they are. They haven't ever really been in power, fortunately.
Thank God.

You know, I find it disgusting that if one supports the DF, they are told to "go email the DNSB"....Nationalism DOES NOT EQUAL Nazis..... I find Nazism terrible and would never vote for it.

Edit: Your article also plainly sucks. Foreigners who have acquired Danish Citizenship ARE NOT FOREIGNERS (in Denmark)
Depends what kind of foreigners they were. Islam is foreign to Denmark, for instance. With or without citizneship.

One thing to consider. Perhaps the most pro argument for immigration is the economical benefit. This seems not to apply to Denmark.

"Refugee, Immigration and Integration Minister Bertel Haarder said: "We think the proposed measures will allow us to reduce the number (of asylum seekers) in order to concentrate on the integration of those who live in our country… Foreigners today represent a net burden on society. They cost more than they give back. This must be changed."
http://migration.ucdavis.edu/mn/more.php?id=2561_0_4_0

And given the problems they have w/ their immigrants, I see no logical/pragmatic reason to be pro-immigrant in Denmark.

Your information is five years old.

http://www.abcmoney.co.uk/news/122007163058.htm

COPENHAGEN (Thomson Financial) - Denmark's ruling government aims to tackle the prevailing labour shortage through facilitating immigration of skilled workers, prime minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen said during a press briefing today ahead of tomorrow's parliamentary election.

Your information is five years old.

http://www.abcmoney.co.uk/news/122007163058.htm

Skilled immigrants seem to comprimise a low percentage of overall immigrants in Europe:

"EU officials warned that the stigmatization of immigrants in Europe threatened to keep even the skilled migrants away. Figures released recently by the European Commission showed that 85 percent of unskilled labor from developing countries had gone to the European Union and only 5 percent to the United States, whereas 55 percent of skilled labor had gone to the United States and only 5 percent to the Union. "We have to reverse these figures with a new vision," Frattini said."
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/10/23/business/card.php

One of the reasons for this was probably PCness which makes immigration debates taboo to a certain extent.

Skilled immigrants seem to comprimise a low percentage of overall immigrants in Europe:

"EU officials warned that the stigmatization of immigrants in Europe threatened to keep even the skilled migrants away. Figures released recently by the European Commission showed that 85 percent of unskilled labor from developing countries had gone to the European Union and only 5 percent to the United States, whereas 55 percent of skilled labor had gone to the United States and only 5 percent to the Union. "We have to reverse these figures with a new vision," Frattini said."
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/10/23/business/card.php

One of the reasons for this was probably PCness which makes immigration debates taboo to a certain extent.

I would assume that it has more to do with the racism and xenophobia that is currently so prevalent in Eurpope, as shown by the ongoing debate in the media. After all, if I was a skilled worker, I'd probably try to go somewhere whrer I wouldn't have to deal with such racism. Since North America is more multicultural, and supportive of multiculturalism, that would be a more logical destination for an intelligent skilled worker.

I would assume that it has more to do with the racism and xenophobia that is currently so prevalent in Eurpope, as shown by the ongoing debate in the media. After all, if I was a skilled worker, I'd probably try to go somewhere whrer I wouldn't have to deal with such racism. Since North America is more multicultural, and supportive of multiculturalism, that would be a more logical destination for an intelligent skilled worker.

I'd say European countries are much more multicultural than US. In US, it is expected that all immigrants will become American in time, while in Europe, immigrants get more cultural recognition.

Depends what kind of foreigners they were. Islam is foreign to Denmark, for instance. With or without citizneship.

Look, a person who has Danish citizenship is a Danish citizen and thus not a foreigner in Denmark. Religion has no factor in the matter. At all.

Well it will be very exciting to see how many votes Hr. Naser Khader gets tomorrow... I do NOT vote for him.... New Alliance is to centrist for my taste :)

I'd say European countries are much more multicultural than US. In US, it is expected that all immigrants will become American in time, while in Europe, immigrants get more cultural recognition.

Well, you'd be wrong.

Well, you'd be wrong.

Funny thing is, becoming American usually has the meaning that you keep your culture.

Becoming European usually means being assimilated.

Edit: Also, voting will be possible in 9 hours :p After that, there'll be a twelve hour period where you can cast your vote (8:00 to 20:00).

I'll probably do it around... 13 or 14.

Here's (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20071113.wdenmark1113/BNStory/International/home) the results from the exit polls. It appears that Mr. Khader will get his wish to be kingmaker.

The ruling coalition and its far-right ally, the Danish People's Party, will win 87 seats in the 179-seat parliament, short of an absolute majority, broadcasters TV2 and DR said in a pair of exit polls.

The polls, issued before voting ended at 1900 GMT, suggested the governing bloc led by Rasmussen's Liberals would need the backing of New Alliance, a six-month-old centrist party that has promised its support.

The Social Democrat-led opposition bloc was trailing with 83 seats, while New Alliance got five seats in both polls.

Here's (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20071113.wdenmark1113/BNStory/International/home) the results from the exit polls. It appears that Mr. Khader will get his wish to be kingmaker.

well nothing is absolute certain... I personally hope that New Alliance looses votes... No one really know what this party truely stands for..

well nothing is absolute certain... I personally hope that New Alliance looses votes... No one really know what this party truely stands for..

They were set up primarily as an opposition to the DPP, which is good enough for me, and a certain small but useful percentage of Danish voters apparently.

Good.
Xenophobia isn't a great thing, and definetely not what Denmark needs right now, I just hope this new guy wont replace it with his own extremist or xenophobic views - let's just hope he doesn't have any.

Well, I cast my vote a bit later than expected (about 3 instead of 2).

Now to wait and see what happens over the next few days.

When do we find out the results, exactly?

When do we find out the results, exactly?
The beauty of it is that even once we know the percentages, it depends on how the coalitions are formed. So don't hold your breath.

Anyways, I find few official results, but a lot of articles suggesting that New Alliance got enough votes to be needed if Rasmussen wants to form a stable government.

So it almost looks like a Venstre, People's Party, New Alliance-type coalition. Which in turn means that the latter two are gonna be at each other's throats from Day One, constantly threatening to break lose. Whatever happens, it almost looks like the days when the People's Party could just decide to treat foreigners like a disease are over.

Best article I found yet is in German: http://www.spiegel.de/politik/ausland/0,1518,517201,00.html