The government’s plan to increase the cost of separation and divorce has been met with harsh criticism from the opposition.

“It’s outrageous that the government now wants to increase taxes on people who are already distraught,” Danish People’s Party Family Spokeswoman Mette Hjermind Dencker tells politiken.dk.

According to Politiken’s information, divorce will now be costing 900 kr. – up 400 kr. from current prices. At the same time the government is looking to introduce general divorce without separation. If a couple wants to be separated first – that too will cost 900 kr. – and an ensuing divorce would cost a further 900 kr.

“Now we can be absolutely sure that no-one is going to choose separation. And that is unfortunate as 20 per cent of those who currently choose separation, get together again,” Dencker says.

The Conservatives also question the government move:

“Grotesque and frustrating that it will be cheaper to avoid separation. It is important to have that period away from each other for a re-think. A lot of people discover that there is more to keep them together than pushes them apart,” says Family Spokeswoman Benedikte Kjær.

The Social Liberal, Socialist People’s Party and Social Democratic proposal is part of a broader State Administration austerity drive under which the administration will have DKK90million less in 2015 than in 2011. The new divorce charges are expected to raise some DKK20million.

“Unbelievable that we have come so far and our oversized public sector has become so expensive that the State has to find any small niche upon which to slap fees,” Kjær says.

Both the Liberals and the government’s parliamentary safety net the Red Greens are also outraged.

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