SHARE
COPY LINK

MINKS

Protestors damage Danish PM’s car during hearing

Police escorted Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen’s car away from the court in Frederiksberg on Thursday after demonstrators damaged a rear light and encircled the vehicle.

Danish police and protestors at Frederiksberg court on Thursday.
Danish police and protestors at Frederiksberg court on Thursday. Photo: Mads Claus Rasmussen/Ritzau Scanpix

Frederiksen, who was at the court to meet a commission into her government’s decision last year to cull fur farm mink, was not in the car at the time of the incident.

READ ALSO: Denmark’s prime minister faces inquiry over decision to cull minks

Demonstrators surrounded the car when it began to move, resulting in police deciding to shield it.

Copenhagen Police told news wire Ritzau that “in connection with the car being moved, it was encircled by demonstrators”.

“In connection with this, a rear light was smashed on the car. It has now been driven away from the location. We are looking further into what happened,” police added.

Two people were arrested as a result of disturbances related to the demonstrations, Copenhagen Police confirmed to Ritzau later on Thursday.

One of the individuals was arrested for breaching laws against violent or threatening behaviour towards service personnel such as police officers, and the other for making offensive remarks.

Frederiksen met a sizeable gathering of demonstrators when she arrived at the court building in Frederiksberg shortly before 9am on Thursday.

One sign held by protestors called for her to be put in prison while also referring to text messages relating to the mink decision that were automatically deleted from the prime minister’s telephone.

Photo: Martin Sylvest/Ritzau Scanpix

Another sign read “Ignorance does not relieve you of responsibility”, referring to the fact the government has argued it did not know the order to cull mink had no legal basis at the time it was issued.

READ ALSO:

Frederiksen defended the decision to cull the minks on Thursday as she arrived at the court building.

“I think, generally speaking, that we unfortunately had to make a decision one year ago to cull all mink. It was the right decision. I will now go in and answer the questions that are asked,” she said.

Member comments

Log in here to leave a comment.
Become a Member to leave a comment.

METTE FREDERIKSEN

Stoltenberg stays on at Nato: What next for Danish PM Frederiksen?

Nato General Secretary Jens Stoltenberg this week confirmed he will continue in his position with the military alliance for at least another year. Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen had been strongly rumoured as a potential successor.

Stoltenberg stays on at Nato: What next for Danish PM Frederiksen?

Stoltenberg this week confirmed he will continue as Nato’s general secretary following a meeting with member nations’ ambassadors, who gave their backing for the decision.

That means the former Norwegian prime minister will continue as head of the military alliance until October 1st 2024, he said.

But where does this leave the current Danish PM, who was strongly rumoured to be a candidate to take over from Stoltenberg?

The decision reflects more on Stoltenberg’s capabilities than the regard in which Frederiksen is held by the international community, according to commentators in Denmark.

“This is first and foremost about what is the most stable and best thing to do when there’s a war in Ukraine,” EU correspondent with national broadcaster DR, Ole Ryborg said.

It has “always been in the Americans’ interest to convince him to continue,” he said.

But Stoltenberg staying in place does not necessarily mean rumours around Frederiksen will stop, according to the broadcaster’s political correspondent Christine Cordsen.

“But it also means [Frederiksen] need to make an extra effort to check back into Danish politics. Both in relation to government work as well as the growing power struggle within the Social Democrats,” Cordsen said to DR.

Rumours about Frederiksen’s potential departure had elicited internal discussion in the party about her own successor.

Those talks could yet gain intensity given that Stoltenberg’s extension is only by one year.

“Because that could mean that this just carries on for another year – both internally in the Social Democrats but also for political opponents who have an interest in her maybe really wanting to do something other than be prime minister of Denmark,” Cordsen said.

SHOW COMMENTS