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🇩🇰 Denmark /Elections & Politics

Danish Government Leaves Citizenship Working Group's Future in Doubt

From Berlingske · () Danish

Translated from Danish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News From a news agency Ongoing story
  • Denmark's new four-party government has not decided whether a working group on citizenship should report or be disbanded.
  • The group was tasked with screening foreigners for values and democratic attitudes before granting citizenship.
  • Around 14,300 people are currently awaiting citizenship decisions as the process is on hold.

Uncertainty surrounds the future of a Danish citizenship working group, with the country's new four-party government yet to decide its fate. The Ministry of Immigration and Integration confirmed to Jyllands-Posten that no decision has been made on whether the group should complete its work or be dissolved.

The working group was established to explore the possibility of screening potential citizens for their values, attitudes, and democratic mindset. "We must not grant citizenship to people who are not Danish at heart or have committed crimes," stated immigration spokesperson Christian Holst Vigilius (K), emphasizing the importance of the expert group's feedback.

We must not grant citizenship to people who are not Danish at heart or have committed crimes. Therefore, it is important that we get feedback from the expert group, which is allowed to finish its work.

— Christian Holst VigiliusThe immigration spokesperson for the Conservative Party (K) commented on the importance of the working group's findings regarding citizenship applications.

This ambiguity comes as the distribution of citizenship is paused. The previous 2021 agreement, which formed the basis for granting citizenship, no longer includes the Conservative Party and Liberal Alliance. Consequently, approximately 14,300 individuals are in limbo, their applications for Danish citizenship on hold.

The new government, formed by the Social Democrats, SF, the Social Liberals, and the Moderates, faces differing views on immigration policy. While SF and the Social Liberals advocate for easier access to citizenship, particularly for young people born and raised in Denmark who have completed their education and have no criminal record, the government's support party, the Red-Green Alliance, wants the working group disbanded swiftly. New Immigration and Integration Minister Morten Bødskov (S) asserted that Danish citizenship represents the highest declaration of trust and that the nation must maintain its stringent immigration policies.

We have the strictest immigration policy ever. We must continue to have it, and of course, this also applies to foreigners who want to become Danish citizens.

— Morten BødskovThe new Minister for Immigration and Integration (S) stated the government's commitment to maintaining strict immigration policies.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Berlingske in Danish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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