Liberalism and radicalism in Denmark

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This article gives an overview of liberalism and radicalism in Denmark. It is limited to

with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in the parliament. The sign ⇒ denotes another party in that scheme. For inclusion in this scheme it isn't necessary so that parties labeled themselves as a liberal party.

Background

In Denmark liberalism became a dominant force in 1840, but developed into a conservative direction. After 1870 a second liberal current, based on farmers, arose. This current got finally divided in a social liberal party,

Liberal Party (Venstre Danmarks liberale parti, member LI, ELDR). The origin of the word Venstre in both party names is to be found in the fact that the major Conservative party in the 19th century was called Right, and Venstre (Left) was formed as an opposition party. Thus it refers to an old left/right division of the political scale, in modern terms Venstre is usually considered a right wing party and Det Radikale Venstre as a centre party.[1]

History

Below is a timeline listing the name changing and history of the political parties centred on the idea of

, but merely that they were on the contemporary left-wing at the time of their naming:

National Liberal Party

From The United Left to Liberal Party (Venstre)

Moderate Left

  • 1892: A right wing faction of the ⇒ United Left formed the Moderate Left (Det Moderate Venstre)
  • 1910: The Moderate Left merged into the new ⇒ Liberal Party

Danish Social Liberal Party (Radikale Venstre)

  • 1905: A radical faction of the ⇒ Left Reform Party seceded as the present-day
    Danish Social Liberal Party
    (Det Radikale Venstre, literally Radical Left)
  • 2007: An MP and an MEP defected from the party in May 2007 and formed the Social Liberal/Social Conservative
    Ny Alliance
    .
  • 2008: Ny Alliance changed to a more economically liberal platform. With this change the party changed its name to Liberal Alliance.
  • 2009: Former Social Liberal Party MP Simon Emil Ammitzbøl founded Borgerligt Centrum, a centre-right party. A few months later, Ammitzbøl and leading members of Borgerligt Centrum left the party to join Liberal Alliance.

Liberal Center

  • 1965: A left-wing faction of the ⇒ Left formed the Liberal Center (Liberalt Centrum)
  • 1968: LC disappeared

Liberal leaders

List of liberal organizations

References

See also