Dansk Folkeparti’s parliamentary group chairman, Alex Ahrendtsen, has apologized to Denmark’s other right-wing parties after three DF members of parliament missed a vote in the Folketing on Thursday. Their absence handed the government a narrow majority.
According to DR, the mood was tense in the corridors of Christiansborg after the vote ended unexpectedly in the government’s favor. Ahrendtsen confirmed to DR that he had apologized to his colleagues in the so-called blue bloc.
He said the other parties were understandably annoyed, but responded with a thumbs up after his apology. Ahrendtsen added that cooperation with the blue parties remains good, and that the episode damaged the relationship only briefly.
The vote concerned the vedtagelsestekster, or resolution texts, following an urgent question that Dansk Folkeparti itself had called on migration policy and the situation at Ceuta. BT reports that the government’s text passed by 54 votes to 52 because DF did not field enough members. DF’s own text, intended to show unity in the blue bloc on migration, never came to a vote.
Six of 16 MPs present
TV2 Østjylland reports that only six of DF’s 16 MPs attended, although nine were expected under the Folketing’s clearing arrangements. The broadcaster also identified which East Jutland members of the party were not involved in the mishap.
Both the Conservatives and Danmarksdemokraterne criticized Dansk Folkeparti, since DF had convened the debate in the first place. Conservative group chair Mette Abildgaard told DR it was a mistake that turned out to have consequences. Per BT, she said she had never before seen three MPs fail to appear for such a vote.
Danmarksdemokraterne’s immigration spokesperson, Dennis Flydtkjær, wrote in a text message to DR that it was really unfortunate that DF did not have control of its troops. Ahrendtsen said he had sent messages to his own group with an unambiguous instruction that procedures must be tightened up.
As reported by JydskeVestkysten, Ahrendtsen described himself as dead tired of the situation and issued a reprimand to the parliamentary group. He told DR that the group has been given several rules on following the procedures he has set out, and that he will monitor attendance more closely.
DF has attributed the absences partly to illness and logistical problems. Weekendavisen reports that one MP was delayed while collecting documents, while another was at a ministry and did not return in time.
The timing of the vote was set by the Folketing’s procedure for urgent questions, with the ballot scheduled the day after Wednesday’s debate. Official minutes published by Folketingstidende record that procedure, without addressing DF’s absence.
