- Title: DENMARK: POLITICIANS CONTINUE CAMPAIGNING FOR UPCOMING DANISH GENERAL ELECTIONS
- Date: 5th February 2005
- Summary: (EU) COPENHAGEN, DENMARK (FEBRUARY 5, 2005) (REUTERS) 1. CAMPAIGN WORKER TYING A BAND AROUND BLUE BALLOON 0.03 2. VARIOUS OF POSTERS OF PARTY LEADERS (2 SHOTS) 0.09 3. PRIME MINISTER ANDERS FOGH RASMUSSEN ARRIVING FOR AN ELECTION DEBATE HANDING OUT LEAFLETS 0.13 4. SOUNDBITE (English) RASMUSSEN SAYING: "The opinion polls look quit
- Embargoed: 20th February 2005 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: COPENHAGEN, DENMARK
- Country: Denmark
- Reuters ID: LVA7ARYQINDGBRQ74MAB60HKT2OG
- Story Text: Politicians continue campaigning ahead of next
week's election.
Popular Liberal Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh
Rasmussen looked set to win the general election next week
as he campaigned on the outskirts of Copenhagen on Saturday
(February 5) vowing to keep Danish troops in Iraq as long
as needed.
The economy is purring along after a brief recession in
2003 and the government's coffers are full.
Despite paying sky-high taxes, a 90-nation poll this
week rated Danes the happiest people in the world, ahead of
Switzerland and Malta.
Rasmussen, 52, came to power in a landslide victory in
2001 on pledges to reduce the flow of immigrants into
Denmark and to cap the Nordic country's high taxes.
A majority of the population of 5.4 million seem to
think he has been a success.
Polls show centre-right bloc has a clear lead and is
seen winning almost 100 of the 179 seats in parliament. The
main opposition Social Democrats led by Mogens Lykketoft
look set for their worst result in 30 years.
With both contenders calling for improved welfare
voters see little difference between the two parties.
However, the Liberals and Socialists differ in their
stance on Denmark's participation in the war in Iraq.
Denmark has about 500 troops on the ground serving
under the British command near Basra.
There was an intelligence warning of an increased risk
of terror attacks before the vote, similar to last year's
Madrid train bombs.
The Danish public was initially supportive of sending
troops to Iraq but a poll last week by Gallup showed 63
percent now want either an immediate withdrawal or at least
a timetable for a pullout.
Three hundred intellectuals, including film director
Lars von Trier, demanded in a weekend newspaper
advertisement that the troops be withdrawn.
One Muslim cleric last week called on Denmark's Muslim
community of about 150,000 to vote against Rasmussen
because of his tough policies on immigration and Iraq.
"Obviously there has been a controversial discussion
with regards to our participation in the war in Iraq. I
think that the Danish people want to look forward now and
assist the Iraqi people in the reconstruction of Iraq and
the building of a new free and modern Iraq," Rasmussen told
Reuters.
His main opponent, Social Democratic leader Mogens
Lykketoft sees a different role for Denmark in post-war
Iraq.
"We have said that we want to help, especially to a new
democratically elected government in Iraq. We think that
our role in the future is not being part of the occupying
force under the American command. But to go in with
civilian, humanitarian support for the Iraqis. Maybe also
training the police and the military. We need a new profile
in Iraq," Lykketoft told Reuters.
Several thousand people demonstrated against the Iraq
war and Rasmussen's government in central Copenhagen on
Saturday.
"I am so upset about the fact that even though the
majority of the Danish population have en against the war
in Iraq from the very beginning they just did not care. So
that is why I am here," said demonstrator Tinne Friberg.
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