Denmark
Denmark is a parliamentary democracy with a limited constitutional monarchy, in which the monarch’s role is purely ceremonial. It performs in the high-range across all categories of the Global State of Democracy (GSoD) framework and scores in the top 25 per cent of countries in all factors. The Nordic nation did not experience significant changes in any GSoD category between 2018 and 2023. The territory of the country, the colloquial Community of the Realm, further extends to two autonomous regions – Greenland and the Faroe Islands. Denmark has an advanced, regulated and service-based market economy, with a strong industrial production, based on a social welfare model.
https://www.idea.int/democracytracker/
May 2024
New law expands time limit for abortion
The Danish government has reached an agreement with the Socialist Left Party, the Red Green Alliance, the Social Liberal Party and the Alternative Party to raise the limit on abortions from 12 to 18 weeks of pregnancy. The 12-week limit was in place since abortion was made legal in Denmark in 1973 and the new limit is justified as a way to give women more time to receive all information and make a decision. The new law would also allow teenagers from the age of 15, which is also the age of consent, to have an abortion without needing parental permission. The new law will take effect in June 2025, following the government's amendments to the Health Act with the new regulations.
Source: Politico, The Local, the Danish Ministry for the Interior and Health
December 2023
Parliament passes amendments against inappropriate treatment of religiously significant writings
Following Quran-burning incidents and protests, the parliament passed amendments against inappropriate treatment of writings with religious significance for any recognized religious communities, including banning the burning of the Quran. The aim of the new law is to protect national security. Individuals found in violation of this law may be subject to imprisonment for up to two years. The change garnered approval from 94 out of 179 members of the Danish parliament, with 77 votes against. Public acts such as burning, tearing, or defiling religious texts could lead to fines or imprisonment. Additionally, individuals who destroy a holy text on video and share the footage online may also face imprisonment. Critics contend that the legislation restricts freedom of expression.
Sources: Danish joint state legal information system (Retsinformation), Nyheder, Politico, Deutsche Welle, Reuters, International IDEA
September 2023
Presidium allows use of Greenlandic and Faroese in Parliament
On 21 September, the Presidium of the Parliament announced that speeches in Greenlandic and Faroese are permitted in the Parliament’s chamber, if the speech is translated to Danish afterwards. To facilitate the translation, funds will be provided for parliamentarians to hire interpreters. Further, the Parliament website alongside records of relevant debates will be translated and all parliamentary staff will receive training in the two regions’ histories, cultures and politics. The decision comes after Danish-Greenlandic parliamentarian Aki-Matilda Høegh-Dam spoke in Greenlandic during a debate in May, sparking discussion on the language policy of the Parliament. Greenland and the Faroe Islands are autonomous territories within the Kingdom of Denmark, which classifies Danish, Greenlandic and Faroese as official languages. The decision is widely supported among lawmakers, although some hoped for the introduction of simultaneous interpretation, as is done in the Greenlandic parliament.
Sources: DR, Euractiv, Danish Parliament
March 2023
Decision to declare parts of Syria safe endangers refugees
The Syrian province of Latakia, a stronghold of the Bashar al Assad regime, was deemed safe to return to by the Danish Refugee Appeals Board. This means that refugees from this province will have their residence permits revoked. Denmark has revoked 150 residence permits of nationals coming from Damascus since 2019. Denmark is unable to deport these asylum seekers due to lack of diplomatic relations with Syria. Most of these asylum seekers were placed in deportation centers and were left in limbo. Both Human Rights Watch (HRW) and Amnesty International have reported on the human rights abuses and persecution coming from Syrian authorities. HRW has called for the decision to be revoked and has stated the risk in Syria remains high no matter which part the refugees come from.
Sources: Reuters, Human Rights Watch, Berlingske, New York Times
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Global ranking per category of democratic performance in 2023
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