Yesterday evening, the leaders of all ten parliamentary parties gathered for their first formal, televised debate (DK) since the beginning of the coronavirus epidemic. After reaching agreements on the earlier steps in managing the crisis and reopening the Denmark’s economy, the opposition parties were eager to stake out their own distinctive positions. Jakob Ellemann-Jensen of the Liberal Party declared that his party would not support any package on economic recovery unless it froze taxes. He characterized the position as an “ultimate demand,” or ultimatum, which in Danish politics is considered an aggressive and provocative maneuver. The Social Democratic government does not necessarily need the Liberals’ votes to pass a bill, but Danish administrations usually try to gather a consensus for the fiscal budget and emergency measures. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen agreed that higher taxes and duties would not help the private sector suffering during the crisis.

Tax break, opening the border

Before the debate Ellemann-Jensen had proposed reducing VAT by 50 percent (DK) in the second half of 2020 as a way of creating jobs. The move would lower prices for consumers and help businesses recover. VAT in Denmark is 25 percent, and the reduction would put the VAT rate below the EU’s minimum level. Ellemann-Jensen raised this issue in the debate, but got no immediate support from the other right-wing parties. Morten Østergaard of the Social Liberals supported a tax break for businesses but wanted the initiative to take the form of a permanent “green conversion” (DK) that advanced sustainable energy rather than a temporary rescue measure. 

Østergaard also pressed Frederiksen on opening the border (DK) at least for German summer tourists in order to boost the rural economies that depend on summer tourism. Germany is opening its borders today and has invited Denmark to join it. Frederiksen said that the government was willing to consider the possibility but warned of the consequences if a German family proved to be spreading the virus and reiterated the government’s intention to wait until June 1 to present a plan for the borders.

Frederiksen in charge

Altogether, there was little new in the debate and not much disagreement. It concluded with the party leaders saying almost unanimously and sometimes emotionally that they looked forward, after the crisis has passed, to being able to give their parents and others a proper hug again (DK). The most noteworthy pronouncements perhaps came before the debate began, when Frederiksen was on her way into the National Gallery, where it was held. Earlier in the day, Frederiksen had sent an email to the party leaders with a new, more optimistic report from SSI, the agency responsible for preparedness against infectious diseases, and an invitation to negotiations on accelerating the reopening. On the way to the debate, she announced that she thought the reopening should proceed more quickly. She thus seemed to take credit for something that many of them had argued for and left them with few options in their response. 

The sharpest exchange (DK) of the evening also occurred during Frederiksen’s preliminary colloquy with journalists. When asked whether it was wise to frighten people in the beginning of the crisis by referring to images of Italian trucks carrying corpses, she replied by asking the reporter, Henrik Qvotrup of the tabloid Ekstra Bladet, whether he was certain that things wouldn’t have gone wrong if Denmark hadn’t locked down earlier than other countries. “But you’re the prime minister and I’m the journalist,” Qvotrup answered. “That’s maybe a very good thing for the Danish people, if I may say so,” replied Frederiksen. One commentator remarked that the irritated response indicated that the issue of whether Frederiksen has overdramatized the dangers of the epidemic must be a sore point for her.