The media assembled in front of the prime minister’s office this morning for comments about an emergency government meeting on the divisive issue of a congestion ring around Copenhagen, but Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt used another entrance to avoid media attention.

The meeting comes in the wake of Politiken’s disclosures that the Social Democrats are prepared to drop the unpopular idea of a toll ring around the capital and find funds elsewhere to satisfy the Socialist People’s Party’s demands for cheaper public transport.

The issue of a toll ring around the capital has developed into a political nightmare for the government, with widespread opposition to the idea, not least from Social Democratic mayors in suburban councils.

On the other hand, in last year’s election campaign, the Socialist People’s Party promised to make public transport much cheaper and has steadfastly held that a congestion charge should provide some DKK 2 bn for its public transport project.

Finance Minister Bjarne Corydon (SocDem) and Minister for Taxation Thor Möger Pedersen have been unable to reach consensus on a concrete model for the toll ring, and in the meantime differences between the coalition parties have become increasingly evident.

The Red Green Party, which is the government’s safety net in Parliament, tells Jyllands-Posten today that the government is on a suicide mission in connection with the toll ring that can cost it the next election.

Some indication of the outcome of today’s inner cabinet meeting is expected during Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt’s weekly news conference later this morning.

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