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DF not rushing referendum in the wake of Brexit
TheCopenhagenPost
June 24th, 2016
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Kristian Thulesen Dahl has high praise for the British but declined to set a date for a Danish vote
Kristian Thulesen Dahl was quick to point out some of the obvious drawbacks of the proposals (photo: News Øresund – Flickr)
Although Kristian Thulesen Dahl, head of Denmark’s right wing party Dansk Folkeparti (DF), had high praise for what he called the “brave Britons” who voted to leave the EU, he said that it is too early for a similar vote in Denmark.
“Now the intensive work is under way to find an agreement between the EU and the UK,” Dahl to DR Nyheder.
“It will probably take a few a years, and I believe that Denmark should push that Britain gets the best possible deal, and after that, it will be quite natural to ask the Danish people whether they want to go the way of the British.”
DK is not the UK
Dahl said that the British opting out was based on “deep scepticism” about the EU.
“The British were told everything that could go wrong with an exit to scare them away and they voted to leave anyway,” Dahl said.
Dahl said that not pushing for an immediate referendum in Denmark was based on his acknowledging that there are differences between the UK and Denmark.
Strange bedfellows
Praise for the British exit also came from the far left leaning Enhedslisten.
“This means that Brits will have better opportunities to decide for themselves and have the right to self-determination,” said Pernille Skipper, Enhedslisten’s spokesperson on political matters.
The left wing party wants the referendum on a faster track than DF, calling for a vote within a year, possibly on Denmark’s Constitution Day on June 5, 2017.
“That would give time for investigating other co-operation possibilities with the EU and allow time for a thorough and proper debate by the Danish people,” Skipper said.
PM Lars Løkke Rasmussen said that Britain’s leaving the EU was “very sad” for Denmark and vowed that no referendum would take place while he was leading the government.
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