Mais Politica...

Depois d'eu ter escrito um pouco sobre alguns partidos, vi no CPH Post um artigo mais detalhado. Resolvi copiá-lo [novamente]:

“Vermelhos” (Oposição)

The centre-left is looking to return to power after ten years in the opposition. A Social Democrat-Socialist People's Party coalition would likely form the government, but the votes of the centrist Social Liberals and possibly the far-left Red-Green Alliance could have the government being pulled in opposite directions.

Here, we look at the parties and their politics.

Social Democrats (Socialdemokraterne) - "A"

Leader: Helle Thorning-Schmidt

2007 Results: 45 seats (-2); 25.2%

If the Social Dems hope to return to power after 10 years in an unfamiliar role as opposition, Helle Thorning-Schmidt must convince voters that she can lead the country. Voter doubt contributed to her loss in 2007, but this time around most polls show the left-of-centre with a solid lead over the incumbents on the right. Still, doubt remains over their economic plan, which relies on lengthening the workday by 12 minutes, and most voters say they place more trust in the government’s ability to run the economy. Expect the Social Dems to attack the Liberal-Conservative government for dismantling the welfare state.

Key issues: economic growth, shoring up the welfare state

Weakness: leadership; economic policy

Socialist People’s Party (Socialistisk Folkeparti) "SF"

Leader: Villy Søvndal

2007 Results: 23 seats (+12); 13%

Will the big winner in 2007 be able to repeat on September 15? The Socialist People’s Party (SF) more than doubled its seats in the last election. And even though the party is poised to surpass the Danish People’s Party as parliament’s third largest, this time around, only cabinet seats will suffice. The SF replaces the Social Libs as the Social Dems’ coalition partner of choice and, should the two parties form a coalition government, Søvndal is likely to become foreign minister, while his lieutenant, former Communist Party member Ole Sohn, will probably get the nod as finance minister. During the election, expectthe SF to attack the current government’s record on welfare and its reliance on the Danish People’s Party to narrowly pass legislation.

Key issues: jobs, schools, healthcare, climate

Weakness: economic policy; worries they would raise taxes

Social Liberals (Det Radikale Venstre) "B"

Leader: Margrethe Vestager

2007 Results: 9 seats (-8); 5.1%

The centrist Social Libs may no longer be certain of getting cabinet seats should the left-of-centre win, but that doesn’t mean the party will be without influence on a new government. Likely to play same role as kingmaker and key ally for a minority Soc Dem-Socialist People’s Party minority coalition as Danish People’s Party plays for the incumbent Liberal-Conservative coalition. After a disastrous 2007 election, the Social Libs reiterated their historic position as a centrist swing party when it broke with the opposition to pledge the decisive votes that helped kill the national early retirement plan. The blue bloc parties will seek to drive a wedge between the Social Libs and the rest of the left, while the Social Libs will seek to position itself as political bridge builders.

Key issues: economy, education, immigration, ending political partisanship, congestion charge for Copenhagen

Weaknesses: strained relationship with Social Dems and SF

Red-Green Alliance (Enhedslisten) "Ø"

Leader: Collective leadership

Spokesperson: Johanne Schmidt Nielsen

2007 Results: 4 seats (-2); 2.2%

Depending on how close the election is, the Red-Green Alliance may wind up with the final seats required for the left-of-centre to form a majority. Although the party, the furthest to the left of any party in parliament, often opposes Social Dem legislation, it would not withhold its support for a Social Dem-led government if doing so would let the centre-right remain in power. Polls project the party to double its representation in parliament, which could make it all the more decisive come election day.

Key issues: rolling back strict immigration regulations, better unemployment benefits, hospitals, climate

Weakness: far-left profile, internal divisions

With the economy the dominant issue in this election, the Liberal-Conservative government is hoping that it can convince voters they are best at steering us back to prosperity. But hanging on to power will require them to show that they can renew themselves after 10 years in government.

Here, we look at the parties that have ruled the land since 2001.

“Azuis” (atual governo)

Liberals (Venstre) "V"

Leader: Lars Løkke Rasmussen

2007 Results: 46 seats (-6); 26.2%

Even if the PM’s Liberals manage to win more votes than the Social Democrats, there’s no guarantee the party will be able to form a government after the election. The Liberals appear to have lost their allyin the Conservatives, and the Danish People’s Party could wind up losing seats for the first time ever. The chances of a Liberal victory are looking increasingly unlikely. After seeing the party rule for ten years, voters appear ready to hand power back to the centre-left. The party’s best chance for winning is to hammer home its economic achievements and sow doubt on the opposition’s ability to pull the country out of recession. This is something it has been doing incessantly since well before the election officially began.

Key issues: economic growth, streamlining welfare state

Weakness: social policy, leadership, voters ready for change

Conservatives (Det Konservative Folkeparti) "C"

Leader: Lars Barfoed

2007 Results: 18 seats (0); 10.4%

After heading into the election as the faithful but somewhat bland ally of the Liberals, the Conservatives announced a declaration of independence from the Danish People’s Party-dominated governing bloc last week. The Conservative rebellion follows a decade of serving as the junior partner in the governing coalition and the gradual erosion of the identity of a party that led the government for a decade from 1982-1993. Although less a strategy to win votes than a way to improve relations with co-operation-minded parties on the left, the move could wind up securing it more influence in a parliament where no single bloc dominates. Chances of serving in a Liberal-led government are all but eliminated.

Key issues: lower taxes, better conditions for business, justice

Weakness: internal power struggles, image as party of the well-heeled

Danish People’s Party (Dansk Folkeparti) "DF"

Leader: Pia Kjærsgaard

2007 Results: 25 seats (+1); 13.9%

A good rule of thumb in Danish elections is don’t count out the Danish People’s Party (DF). This election, like the last two, is shaping up to be a referendum against the right-wing’s influence on legislation in a number of key areas, including social welfare, justice and of course immigration. But while most pundits expect the party may again be the one celebrating on election night, DF could still lose seats for the first time since entering parliament in 1998, when it stormed into the legislature by winning 13 seats. Should it lose electoral influence, the DF’s impact on the country’s immigration policy is likely to be long lasting, as the Social Democrats to a large extent support the increased restrictions the party helped push through.

Key issues: immigration, social welfare, health

Weakness: far-right profile, polarising

Liberal Alliance (Liberal Alliance) "I"

Leader: Anders Samuelsen

2007 Results: 5 seats(+5); 2.8% (as New Alliance)

After uncertainty about whether it would clear the electoral threshold, the Liberal Alliance appears to be all but certain to earn enough votes to make it into parliament again for a second term. Should it make it in, it will continue to act as a strong proponent of economic liberalism. Formed in 2007 as the centrist New Alliance, the party sought to give the government an alternative to the DF. Since the name and profile change in 2008, the LA has almost exclusively concentrated on economic issues, including a proposed 40 percent tax rate.

Key issues: economic growth, lower taxes, streamlining public sector

Weaknesses: extreme economic liberalism, lack of party discipline

Christian Democrats (Kristendemokraterne) "K"

Leader: Bjarne Hartung Kirkegaard

2007 Results: 0 seats (0); 0.9%

After failing to clear the 2 percent electoral threshold in 2005 and again in 2007, the Christian Democrats regained a seat when Per Ørum Jørgensen defected to the party from the Conservatives. There, he has tried to use the party’s sole, and occasionally deciding, vote to earn concessions for the party’s key issues and steer the Liberal-Conservative government away from the DF. Unlikely to clear electoral threshold.

Key issues: ending decentralisation, family, elderly

Weakness: Christian association, origins as anti-abortion protest party