Venstre (Denmark)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

You have new messages (last change).
Main article: Politics of Denmark
Venstre, Danmarks Liberale Parti
Party logo
Leader Anders Fogh Rasmussen
Founded 1870
Headquarters Søllerødvej 30
2840 Holte
Political ideology Liberalism
International affiliation Liberal International
ELDR
Website http://www.venstre.dk/

Venstre[1] (IPA: ['ʋensdɐ], in Danish literally: Left), full name: Venstre, Danmarks Liberale Parti (Venstre, Liberal Party of Denmark) is the largest political party in Denmark, founded with a basis on free market Liberalism, now a right-of-centre party. The party is a member of Liberal International and sits with the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party in the European Parliament. In the 2005 parliamentary elections, it received 29% of the vote, and 52 out of 179 seats. It is led by Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the Prime Minister, and currently governs in coalition with the Conservative People's Party, with support from the Danish People's Party.

Venstre is a liberal party. Some describe it as a classical liberal party, since the current leader, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, known for his authorship of the book "Fra Socialstat til Minimalstat" (English: From Social State to Minimal State), advocated an extensive reform of the Danish welfare state, along classical liberal lines, including lower taxes and less government interference in corporate and individual matters. Rasmussen has lately drifted away from his earlier views and has called liberalism an outdated ideology.[2]

Contents

[edit] History

Venstre 1945 election material ("Venstre has good cards on hand")
Venstre 1945 election material ("Venstre has good cards on hand")

Venstre, or the Left in English, was founded in 1870 under the name Det Forenede Venstre (The United Left). It was formed through the merger of three parliamentary factions, all of whom had identified as leftist in the context of the time. From 1895-1910 it was known as Venstrereformpartiet (Left Reform Party), and after that as Venstre.

Venstre was traditionally a party advocating free trade and farmer's interests. This traditional landed basis resulted in a relative decline in influence due to the rapidly accelerating urbanisation of Danish society. Starting in the 1980s, the party began expanding into urban regions as well.

After the 1960s Venstre was reoriented as a more classical liberal party. During the leadership of Anders Fogh Rasmussen the party line has turned more towards centre-right.

List of government participation:

  • 1901-1909 (as the Venstre Reform Party)
  • 1910-1913
  • 1920-1924
  • 1926-1929
  • 1945-1947
  • 1950-53 with the Conservative People's Party
  • 1968-71 with the Conservative People's Party and the Danish Social Liberal Party
  • 1973-75
  • 1978-79 with the Social Democratic Party
  • 1982-88 with the Conservative People's Party, Centre Democrats, and the Christian People's Party
  • 1988-90 with the Conservative People's Party and The Danish Social Liberal Party
  • 1990-93 with the Conservative People's Party
  • 2001- with the Conservative People's Party

Venstre Prime Ministers:

Venstre Leaders since 1929

[edit] Origin of the name

The fact that the major liberal political party in a country calls itself 'Left' is often confusing to many foreign (and sometimes Danish) observers. The name has, however, its historical explanation. At the time of its foundation, Venstre affirmed progressive ideas in the then Danish parliament. Their opponents, Højre (Right), is the fore-runner of the present Conservative People's Party. In current Danish politics there is a clear distinction between the concepts of Venstre (Left, i.e. the party bearing that name) and Venstrefløj (Left-wing, i.e. the socialist and communist parties). The use of the word for "left" in the name of the Danish political party Radikale Venstre and the Norwegian party Venstre is meant to refer to Liberalism and not Socialism.

Members of the party are referred to as Venstremænd and Venstrekvinder, respectively "Venstre Men" and "Venstre Women" (singular: -mand / -kvinde).

[edit] Tax policy

Since the elections in 2001, Venstre has enacted a "tax stop" in order to halt the growth in taxes seen during the previous eight years under the Social Democrats (Socialdemokratiet). This tax stop has been under heavy fire from the parties on the left wing of Danish politics, allegedly for being "asocial" and "only for the rich."

It has, however, been ineffective, judging by Venstre's own intentions. The goal of the tax stop was to halt the growth of public expenditures, but even with their cuts in spending (which are opposed by the left wing), public spending has continued to rise by approximately 1% above inflation, per year.

In 2004, two small tax cuts went into effect:

First, people with jobs get a 3% tax reduction on the 5% "bottom tax" (Danish: Bundskat). This initiative is supposed to encourage people to go off welfare, and take jobs instead.

Second, the bottom limit of the "middle tax" (Danish: Mellemskat) of 6%, is raised by 12,000 Danish Kroner every year, over the next four years. This will limit the income stresses of middle incomes and families with children.

Venstre has so far refrained from making statements on the future of the "top tax" (Danish: Topskat) of 15%, and the Value Added Tax (Danish: "MOMS") of 25%.

The income tax in Denmark ranges from [9%-44%] for ultra low income families to [44%-62%] progressively for middle class families. 850,000 Danes (31% of everyone employed) pay a marginal income tax of 62%.

[edit] Youth and student wings

[edit] See also

[edit] Literature

  • Tom Matz (2004), Venstre ved du hvor du har ForlagsKompagniet : Nørhaven Book.

[edit] References

  1. ^ The party name is officially not translated into any other language, but is in English often referred to as the Liberal Party. Similar rules apply for the name of the party's youth wing Venstres Ungdom.
  2. ^ Berlingske

[edit] External links

Political Parties in Denmark
Represented in the Folketing:

Venstre (52) | Social Democrats (47) | Danish People's Party (24) | Conservative People's Party (18) | Danish Social Liberal Party (17) | Socialist People's Party (11) | Red-Green Alliance (6) | Siumut (Greenland) (1) | Inuit Ataqatigiit (Greenland) (1) | Republican Party (Faroe Islands) (1) | People's Party (Faroe Islands) (1)
Represented in the European Parliament:

Social Democrats (5) | Venstre (3) | Danish People's Party (1) | Conservative People's Party (1) | Danish Social Liberal Party (1) | Socialist People's Party (1) | June Movement (1) | People's Movement against the EU (1)
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../v/e/n/Venstre_%28Denmark%29_f349.html"