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Main articles: Politics of Denmark

'Venstre'^[1] (, 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 Rasmussen has lately drifted away from his earlier views and has called liberalism an outdated ideology.^[2]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

History

Origin of the name

Tax policy

Youth and student wings

See also

Literature

References

External links

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, 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:'

★ Johan Henrik Deuntzer (July 24 1901 – January 14 1905)

★ Jens Christian Christensen (January 14 1905 – October 12 1908)

★ Niels Neergaard (October 12 1908 – August 16 1909)

★ Ludvig Holstein-Ledreborg (August 16 1909 – October 28 1909)

★ Klaus Berntsen (July 5 1910 – June 21 1913)

★ Niels Neergaard (May 5 1920 – April 23 1924)

★ Thomas Madsen-Mygdal (December 14 1926 – April 30 1929)

★ Knud Kristensen (November 7 1945 – November 13 1947)

★ Erik Eriksen (October 30 1950 – September 30 1953)

★ Poul Hartling (December 19 1973 – February 13 1975)

★ Anders Fogh Rasmussen (November 27 2001 - )
'''Venstre'' Leaders since 1929'

★ 1929-1941, Thomas Madsen-Mygdal (1876-1943)

★ 1941-1949, Knud Kristensen (1880-1962)

★ 1949-1950, Edvard Sørensen (1893-1954)

★ 1950-1965, Erik Eriksen (1902-1972)

★ 1965-1977, Poul Hartling (1914-2000)

★ 1977-1984, Henning Christophersen (b. 1939)

★ 1984-1998, Uffe Ellemann-Jensen (b. 1941)

★ 1998-, Anders Fogh Rasmussen (b. 1953)

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).

Tax policy

Since the elections in 2001, Venstre has enacted a so called "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."
Attempts to control the growth in public expenditures, have however, been less successful than originally hoped by the party. Public spending has continued to increase 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%.

Youth and student wings

★ Venstres Ungdom

★ Liberal Students of Denmark ''(Danmarks Liberale Studerende)''

See also

★ Liberalism

★ Contributions to liberal theory

★ Liberalism worldwide

★ List of liberal parties

★ Liberal democracy

★ Liberalism and radicalism in Denmark

Literature

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

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

External links

★ Venstre official site

★ Denmark's Liberal Party presentation in English

★ Party Profile from the newspaper Politiken