The Conservatives will not support or take part in any new centre-right government unless it undertakes to axe the toll ring around Copenhagen that has not yet been built but is part of the current centre-left government’s platform.

“That toll ring must be axed as soon as possible after an election if we have a majority. It mustn’t be there a day more than necessary,” Conservative Leader Lars Barfoed says.

Barfoed’s demand comes after the Liberal Party of former Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen has refused to issue a guarantee that the congestion charge toll ring the government plans to build around the capital will be dismantled if power reverts to the centre-right.

Asked whether his demand is final, Barfoed says ‘of course’.

“Yes, of course. I cannot imagine that a government that we support – or are members of – will fail to dismantle the toll ring as soon as possible. It simply must. But I hope that it won’t be built. That is our primary goal,” Barfoed says.

The Danish People’s Party has also said that the congestion toll ring should be removed by a new government.

But the senior opposition Liberal Party, which has continuously and heavily criticised the government’s plan is less than willing to guarantee that, if built, it will be removed again if the party wins the next election.

“What will happen with the ring is something we will decide when the time comes. We neither can nor will say anything about it now,” Liberal Spokesman Martin Geertsen tells Jyllands-Posten, adding that he cannot guarantee that the Liberals will remove the ring.

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