Denmark Elections

Western Europe's political leaders scrambled Wednesday to maintain their march toward political and economic unity in the wake of the stunning decision by Danish voters to drop out of formation. No matter how well the politicians succeed, however, the Danish vote could leave a long-lasting blot on Europe's ambitions to act as a world-class economic and diplomatic player. More narrowly, it could also interfere with the expansion plans of the 12-nation European Community.

Voters in Denmark on Thursday rejected joining the European common currency, setting up the already embattled euro for further drubbing on international markets and highlighting the deep rift separating Danes committed to an integrated Europe and those fearful of losing their national identity to a continental superstate.

President Reagan's press spokesman, Marlin Fitzwater, apologized to Denmark on Friday for an earlier comment that offended some Danes. At a White House press conference on Wednesday, Fitzwater was asked to comment on a Danish election measure to tighten curbs on U.S. ships taking nuclear arms into Danish ports. "Danish means breakfast to me," Fitzwater replied to laughter, in a reference to the sweet pastries that many Americans eat with their morning coffee.

It should have been a case of preaching to the converted when Economic Affairs Minister Marianne Jelved brought her campaign to persuade Danes to adopt Europe's common currency to 300 junior college students here preparing for careers in international business.

Danish Prime Minister Poul Schlueter called an election for May 10 and asked voters "to take a stand" on the nation's full partnership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. He told Parliament he is calling the election because of a resolution it passed last week demanding that visiting warships be warned against carrying nuclear arms. Until now, Danish governments have not pressed U.S.

A national election with 16 parties campaigning for 179 parliamentary seats would probably be a lively and heated political contest anywhere but Denmark, but on the eve of today's election a newspaper here observed, "The Campaign Has Disappeared." Even by the placid standards of politics in Denmark, where proportional representation has denied an outright majority to any party for more than half a century, this campaign has been all but invisible--in the newspapers and on television.

It should have been a case of preaching to the converted when Economic Affairs Minister Marianne Jelved brought her campaign to persuade Danes to adopt Europe's common currency to 300 junior college students here preparing for careers in international business.

Denmark will have another chance to vote for European unity Tuesday, but it may be too late to put the movement back on track anytime soon. Fundamental doubts about the European Community's march to political and economic unity--common European defense and foreign policies, a single EC currency--have spread to all the Community's major countries. Germany is worried about losing its currency, France about its identity and Britain about its sovereignty.

In a staggering blow to the cause of European unity, Danish voters Tuesday rejected a treaty designed to bind the 12 nations of the European Community closer together. The Danish referendum went against ratification of the so-called Maastricht Treaty by the narrowest of margins--50.7% against and 49.3% in favor, a difference of a mere 46,269 votes.

The anti-immigration Danish People's Party, or DPP, burst onto the national political scene by capturing 6.8% of the vote in Tuesday's local elections, latest results showed. Political commentators said the DPP, in its first election, had gained mostly from another far-right party and that the balance of power between the ruling Social Democrats and right-of-center parties was unchanged. But the gains made by the party jolted many citizens in a country that has a reputation for tolerance.

Danes voting for a new government Wednesday are expected to give a lukewarm endorsement to the incumbent prime minister, Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, a Social Democrat. Despite an alarmingly high 12.5% unemployment rate, life remains comfortable in what has become one of the world's richest, most liberal welfare states--a system built by the Social Democrats. The recent election victory by the Social Democrats in Sweden is also expected to improve Rasmussen's chances for survival.

Danish voters, breathing new life into the cause of European unity, reversed course Tuesday and ratified the European Community's treaty on economic and political union. Final results showed 56.8% of the voters supported the treaty and 43.2% opposed it. The 85% voter turnout reflected the intense interest that the treaty had generated.

Denmark will have another chance to vote for European unity Tuesday, but it may be too late to put the movement back on track anytime soon. Fundamental doubts about the European Community's march to political and economic unity--common European defense and foreign policies, a single EC currency--have spread to all the Community's major countries. Germany is worried about losing its currency, France about its identity and Britain about its sovereignty.

Western Europe's political leaders scrambled Wednesday to maintain their march toward political and economic unity in the wake of the stunning decision by Danish voters to drop out of formation. No matter how well the politicians succeed, however, the Danish vote could leave a long-lasting blot on Europe's ambitions to act as a world-class economic and diplomatic player. More narrowly, it could also interfere with the expansion plans of the 12-nation European Community.

In a staggering blow to the cause of European unity, Danish voters Tuesday rejected a treaty designed to bind the 12 nations of the European Community closer together. The Danish referendum went against ratification of the so-called Maastricht Treaty by the narrowest of margins--50.7% against and 49.3% in favor, a difference of a mere 46,269 votes.

Voters in tiny Denmark will have a chance to throw a giant monkey wrench into the European Community machinery today when they decide whether to ratify treaties for political and monetary union. Leaders of the 12 EC nations agreed to the treaties at the Dutch town of Maastricht last December. Ratification by all 12 countries is technically necessary to put the treaties into effect.

Voters in Denmark's parliamentary election Tuesday appeared to give a vote of confidence to the country's continuing membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. But they left unsettled a controversy over the alliance's nuclear weapons. The voting, in which eight different parties gained seats in the Folketing (the Parliament), failed to give a clear majority to parties that are either for or against tightening Denmark's laws prohibiting nuclear weapons in Danish territory.