(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Denmark’s governing party has been overtaken by its main rival, according to a poll by Megafon released by TV2. 25.1 per cent of respondents would vote for the Social Democracy in Denmark (SD), while 24.7 per cent would support the ruling Left, Liberal Party of Denmark (V) in the next general election.

The Socialist People’s Party (SF) is third with 17.8 per cent, followed by the Danish People’s Party (DF) with 13.9 per cent, and the Conservative People’s Party (KF) with 9.9 per cent. Support is lower for the Radical Left-Social Liberal Party (RV), the Unity List-The Red Greens (EL), the New Alliance (NA), and the Christian Democrats (KD).

A legislative election took place in November 2007. The Liberals received 26.3 per cent of the vote and secured 46 seats, followed by the Social Democrats with 25.5 per cent and 45 mandates. The ruling coalition—encompassing V, KF and DF—took control of 89 seats, one short of the 90 required to govern without the support of another political party. The NA, which won 2.8 per cent of the vote and five seats, joined the administration. Liberal leader Anders Fogh Rasmussen—who has served as prime minister since November 2001—retained his position.

Last month, the European Court of Justice affirmed the right of family reunification for immigrants in European Union (EU) member nations. Denmark has strict policies on immigration and family reunification, which the current government endorses.

On Aug. 27, Rasmussen vowed to challenge the court’s ruling, saying, "Denmark’s immigration policy is not going to change; the voters need to know that the law holds. (...) We’re going to the EU to change the rules."

Also last month, Danish integration minister Birthe Roenn Hornbech declared that the government is already seeking to protect its tight restrictions on immigration, saying, "We’ve already written to some of our ambassadors and our friends, I’ve spoken to the EU Commissioner, I’ve spoken to my French colleague and I’m in the process of writing to other colleagues."

Polling Data

What party would you support in the next general election?

Source: Megafon / TV2
Methodology: Interviews with 1,004 Dane adults, conducted from Aug. 26 to Aug. 28, 2008. Margin of error is 2.7 per cent.

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