The document summarizes the 2011 Danish general election and the subsequent government formation process. The Social Democrats emerged as the largest party and Helle Thorning-Schmidt was tasked with forming a new government. After two weeks of negotiations, a new government was expected to be presented comprising the Social Democrats, Socialist People's Party, and likely the Social Liberals. The parliamentary situation and lifespan of the new government would depend on maintaining support from the Red-Green Alliance.

1. The General Election September 15, 2011

2. Political Culture and National Identity
Negotiations, Dialogue, Compromise, Consensus
”Denmark is not a Nation
- Denmark is a Tribe”
Sir James Mellon, former British ambassador to Denmark
Basis and background

3. The Political System
Parliamentarism
Proportional Representation
Multi-Party System
Minority Governments

4. 4
Parliamentarism vs.
Presidentialism
Parliamentarism:
Government comes from Parliament and rely on its
support – dialogue and compromise
Presidentialism:
Both President and Parliament/Congress are elected by
the people – competition and conflict

5. The Constitutional Framework
One Chamber Parliament:
”Folketinget” – 179 members – 4 years term
Negative Parliamentarism:
A government can stay in power as long as there is not a
majority against
Power of the Prime Minister:
Can dissolve the Parliament and call for a general
election, whenever he wants
The special status of The Faroe Islands and Greenland

6. 6
The Electoral System
Proportional Representation:
175 seats in Denmark + 2 from The Faroe
Islands and 2 from Greenland
2 pct. treshold to be represented
Turn-out – about 85-89 pct.
Voting age:
All Danish citizens of 18 years or more, automatically
registred on CPR-No.

7. 7
How does it work?
The Main Principles of the Danish System of
Proportional Representation:
A proportional distribution af seats on the national
level among political parties which have passed the
treshold of 2 percent of the total numer of votes
A part of the seats are regionally or locally fixed
according to the number of inhabitants of the different
regions
You can vote on the candidate or the party

8. 8
Danish Political Parties
The Traditional Left-Right Dimension
LA
EL SF SD RV V KF DF
_._______.__.____._____.__.___.__._
Left Center Right
Other Dimensions?

9. 9
Danish General Election
September 15, 2011

10. 10
General Election
September 15, 2011
 Venstre (Liberals), 47 (+ 1)
 Konservative Folkeparti (Conservatives), 8 (–10)
 Dansk Folkeparti (Danish People’s Party), 22 (-3)
 Liberal Alliance (Liberal Alliance), 9 (+4)
 Socialdemokraterne (Social Democrats), 44 (-1)
 SF (Socialist People’s Party), 16 (-7)
 Radikale Venstre (Social Liberals), 17 (+8)
 Enhedslisten (Red-Green Alliance), 12 (+8)
 Faroe Islands and Greenland, 2 + 2 Red: 3
Blue: 1
 Turn-out: 87,7% - highest in 27 years

11. Red:
S, SF, RV, EL: 89
+3 North Atlantic
92
Blue:
V, KF, DF, LA: 86
+1 North Atlantic
87
11

12. The New Government?
New Prime Minister:
Helle Thorning-Schmidt (SD)
S-SF: 60
S-SF-RV: 77
So what?
12

13. So what?
The day after the election - Friday, September 16, 2011, at 11:00 am:
- Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen (V) hands in the resignation
of the VK-government to the Queen
- Caretaker-Government until a new government is formed
All parties are called to the Queen to say who they wants to lead the
negotiation for forming a new government.
- a majority for Helle Thorning-Schmidt
Helle Thorning-Schmidt is called to the Queen and is asked to start
negotiation for forming a new government
Helle Thorning-Schmidt starts negotiations with all parties
- then just the ”red block”, and finally only S-SF and RV
Main question: Will RV (the Social Liberals) join the government?
Political platform/program?
13

14. New Government
Negotiations goes on (about 2 weeks)
New governmentpresented – by the end of this week?
S-SF – and probably RV
- alternative?
Opening of new session in Parliament:
October 4, 2011
Parliamentary situation and the ”life” of the new government?
- The Role of The Red-Green Allaince (EL) –
and how to find a majority?
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15. The Parliamentary Situation
Venstre 47
Konservative Folkeparti (Conservatives) 8
Dansk Folkeparti (Danish People’s Party) 22
Liberal Alliance 9
North Atlantic 1
Socialdemokraterne (Social Democrats) 44
SF (Socialist People’s Party) 16
Radikale Venstre (Social Liberals) 17
Enhedslisten (Red-Green Alliance) 12
North Atlantic 3