Venstre (Denmark)

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Denmark

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Politics of Denmark,
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Venstre (in Danish literally: Left) is in electoral size the largest political party in Denmark, ideologically based 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 governs in coalition with the Conservative People's Party.

Note of terminology: The party name is officially not translated into any other language. Similar rules apply for the name of the party's youth wing Venstres Ungdom.

Politically, Venstre is a market or classical liberal party. The current leader, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, is known for his authorship of the book "Fra Socialstat til Minimalstat" (English: From Social State to Minimal State), where he advocates an extensive reform of the Danish welfare state, along classic liberalist lines, i.e. lower taxes, less government interference in corporate and individual matters, etc. Rasmussen has lately drifted away from his earlier views and has called liberalism an outdated ideology[1].

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%.

1 History
- 1.1 Origin of the name
2 Youth wing
3 See also
4 External links

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History

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 (whom all had identified themselves as leftist in the then context). From 1895-1910 it was known as Venstrereformpartiet (Left Reform Party), and after that as Venstre.

Venstre was traditionally a party of the landed interests, especially in the countryside. It also represented much of the rural population. After the 1960s it was reoriented as a more classical liberal party.

Since 1953 the party has been in power 10 times:

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
1982-87 with the Conservative People's Party, Centre Democrats, and the Christian People's Party
1987-88 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
2001-2005 with the Conservative People's Party
2005- with the Conservative People's Party

Venstre Prime Ministers since 1953:

Erik Eriksen (30/10 1950 – 30/9 1953)
Poul Hartling (19/12 1973 – 13/2 1975)
Anders Fogh Rasmussen (27/11 2001 - )

Venstre Leaders since 1953

1950-1965, Erik Eriksen
1965-1977, Poul Hartling
1977-1984, Henning Christophersen
1984-1998, Uffe Ellemann-Jensen
1998-, Anders Fogh Rasmussen

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Origin of the name

The fact that the major right-wing 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 occupied the more leftist position 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).

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