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Encyclopedia :
L :
LI :
LIB :
Liberal Party (Denmark) |
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Liberal Party (Denmark)Venstre (the Danish word for: Left, sometimes referred to as the Liberal Party in international context) is a major free market liberal party in Denmark. The party is a member of Liberal International and sits with the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party in the European Parliament. In the 2005 parliamentary elections, it received 29% of the vote, and 52 out of 179 seats. It is led by Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the Prime Minister, and governs in coalition with the Conservative People's Party. Politically, Venstre is a market or classical liberal party. The current leader, Rasmussen, is known for his authorship of the book "Fra Socialstat til Minimalstat" (English: From Social State to Minimal State), where he advocates an extensive reform of the Danish welfare system, along classic liberalist lines, i.e. lower taxes, less government interference in corporate and individual matters, etc. Rasmussen has lately drifted away from his earlier views and has called liberalism an outdated ideology[1]. Since the elections in 2001, Venstre has enacted a "tax stop" in order to halt the growth in taxes seen during the previous eight years under the Social Democrats (Socialdemokratiet). This tax stop has been under heavy fire from the parties on the left wing of Danish politics, allegedly for being "asocial" and "only for the rich." It has, however, been ineffective, judging by Venstre's own intentions. The goal of the tax stop was to halt the growth of public expenditures, but even with their cuts in spending (which are opposed by the left wing), public spending has continued to rise by approximately 1% above inflation, per year. In 2004, two small tax cuts went into effect: First, people with jobs get a 3% tax reduction on the 5% "bottom tax" (Danish: Bundskat). This initiative is supposed to encourage people to go off welfare, and take jobs instead. Second, the bottom limit of the "middle tax" (Danish: Mellemskat) of 6%, is raised by 12,000 Danish Kroner every year, over the next four years. This will limit the income stresses of middle incomes and families with children. Venstre has so far refrained from making statements on the future of the "top tax" (Danish: Topskat) of 15%, and the Value Added Tax (Danish: "MOMS") of 25%. The income tax in Denmark ranges from [9%-44%] for ultra low income families to [44%-62%] progressively for middle class families. 850,000 Danes (31% of everyone employed) pay a marginal income tax of 62%. HistoryVenstre, or the Left in English, was founded in 1870 under the name Det Forenede Venstre (The United Left). It was formed through the merger of three parliamentary factions (whom all had identified themselves as leftist in the then context). From 1895-1910 it was known as Venstrereformpartiet (Left Reform Party), and after that as Venstre. Venstre was traditionally a party of the landed interests, especially in the countryside. It also represented much of the rural population. After the 1960s it was reoriented as a more classical liberal party. Since 1953 the party has been in power 10 times:
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