Today’s big topic: Several parties demand legal investigation into Moderaterne’s attempt to buy Mike Fonseca’s mandate
What’s happening?
The top leadership of Folketinget, the Danish Parliament, must now investigate whether Moderaterne have a problem.
On Tuesday, Frihedsbrevet revealed how Moderaterne attempted to strike a deal with Fonseca, offering him a ’salary’ of 370,000 kroner in exchange for relinquishing his mandate to the party. The exposure has sparked outrage at Christiansborg, with several parties calling Moderaterne’s actions ’undemocratic’ and demanding a legal assessment of their legality.
On November 21, 2023, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, chairman of Moderaterne (M), stated after a group meeting in the party that »Moderaterne don’t have a problem, Mike Fonseca has a problem.«
A few days prior, it was revealed that the party’s then-28-year-old parliamentary member, Mike Fonseca, had a romantic relationship with a girl in eighth grade, which was a violation of Moderaterne’s code
Why it matters!
The specific case of Moderaterne and Lars Løkke Rasmussen trying to ’buy’ a mandate from a member of parliament raises major democratic concerns across the political spectrum.
Enhedslisten’s (Ø) Peder Hevlplund says: »I believe it reflects a very concerning approach to politics, where one imagines that financial means can be used to demand a political concession from a parliamentary member. It’s an attempt to turn a parliamentary mandate into a commodity at Hjallerup Market, up for negotiation.«
Moderaterne’s party secretary, Britt Bager, told Politiken that the attempt to make a deal with Fonseca – and thus try to prevent his relationship with a 15-year-old from becoming public knowledge – was also a consideration for the girl.
Still curious? Read the full article here.
In other news
– Ghost towns are soon becoming a reality in outlying areas
The consequences of decades of low fertility can now be seen in large parts of the country, particularly in areas where immigration does not sustain the population numbers. When the Danish population still rises year by year, recently reaching 6 million residents , it is due to immigrants and their descendants, who collectively make up over 16 percent of the Danish population. But immigrants tend to settle in and around larger cities, leaving many small towns and rural areas as a testament to the effects of low fertility.
Read the full article here.
–Politician left baffled after Monday’s murder case: »I am frustrated and horrified on behalf of the victims«
On Monday, a woman was shot and killed in Brønshøj by her ex-husband, who had a restraining order against her. This has led many to regret that an effective tool from Norway has not been implemented earlier. It is an ankle monitor, similar to the ones used for prison sentences. But instead of notifying authorities when a person leaves an area, in cases involving restraining orders, it alerts the probation service when a person is approaching someone they are legally required to stay away from. Read more here.
– Copenhagen neighborhood may be closed off for gasoline cars
The Technical and Environmental Committee of the Copenhagen City Council has selected Vesterbro as the first area where only zero-emission vehicles will be allowed in the future. According to the decision, the ban on fuel-powered cars in the neighborhood will take effect for private vehicles at the beginning of 2027 and about a year later for commercial traffic. However, residents of the neighborhood will be exempt from the ban.
–Record number of people have made decisions about organ donation following new regulations
Citizens in Denmark have flocked to their keyboards in recent weeks to register whether or not they wish to donate organs after their death. Over 186,000 people have made their decision for the first time between June 1 and June 15. This is more than in any previous month. This information comes from the Ministry of the Interior and Health.
Which koldskål is the best for a summertime dessert
When it comes to choosing cold buttermilk soup, consumers prefer conventional types over organic ones.
When the soft rays of the sun touch our bare arms, our craving for koldskål increases. Koldskål is a sweet, cold dairy product, typically cpnsumed either as a beverage or as a dessert, served with small cookies and sometimes strawberries. Sales begin in May and during the summer are 100 times higher than in the coldest month of the year.
Koldskål is a Danish summer classic, definitely worth trying out during the sunny and warm summer days. Politiken has blindtested six varieties of koldskål, all of which can be bought at your local supermarkets, to help you find the select the best one. Below, you’ll find the test winner as well as the worst ranking koldskål. You can find the full test and learn more about koldskål in the full article.
Test winner: Løgismose eco grandma’s koldskål
- Bought at Netto
- Price: 24,95 kr Contents: 1 liter Price pr. liter: 24,95 kr.
- Michael René: Sweet and rich milk consistency. Noticeable buttermilk flavor. Tangy vanilla taste with visible vanilla seeds.
- John Jønsson: Really good acidity, sweetness, and consistency. Tastes like traditional koldskål.
Last place: Arla Koldskål with buttermilk and eggs
- Bought at SuperBrugsen
- Price: 25,95 kr Contents: 1 liter Price pr. liter: 25,95 kr.
- Michael René: Richer and thicker than many others. Dry and yellowish with visible vanilla seeds. A very simple product.
- John Jønsson: Both too sour and too sweet. Lacks buttermilk flavor. Too much lemon taste, which overshadows the original taste of koldskål.
This newsletter features stories originally published in Danish. AI was used to shorten and translate the articles into English, after which a member of the editorial staff reviewed and refined the content.