Newly-appointed Foreign Minister Lene Espersen (Cons) has reacted to Politiken’s decision to apologise for the effect of its publication of the Mohammed cartoon by saying that Danes have to stick together.

“The best thing that we can do now is to keep together as a nation and that newspapers stick together when they are met with threats,” Espersen says adding that the population is united in its stance against threats, and that the Foreign Ministry is closely following the effects of the apology abroad.

Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen (Lib) also notes Politiken’s unilateral move in the context of threats of a lawsuit.

“Up to now I have been of the impression that the newspapers have stood shoulder to shoulder. If this is an expression of a change in that, I think it can be cause for concern,” the prime minister says.

“If this is a question of bowing to a threat in order to avoid a court case, I am also concerned,” the prime minister says continuing: “If this is an expression of breaking the unity that has existed among Danish newspapers and in Danish society, it is a matter of serious, serious concern.”