Red-Green Alliance (Denmark)

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Red-Green Alliance
Enhedslisten – De Rød-Grønne
Leader Collective leadership, but the party has a political spokesperson, Johanne Schmidt-Nielsen
Founded 1989
Merger of Left Socialists,
Communist Party of Denmark,
Socialist Workers Party,
Communist Workers Party, independents
Headquarters Studiestræde 24, 1
1455 København K
Youth wing None, though cooperating with Socialist Youth Front
Ideology Socialism,1
Anti-capitalism,1
Eco-socialism,1
Euroscepticism
Political position Far-left2345
International affiliation None
European affiliation Party of the European Left,
European Anticapitalist Left
European Parliament group None
Colours Red
Parliament
12 / 179
European Parliament
0 / 13
Regions:6
2 / 205
Municipalities:7
14 / 2,468
Election symbol
Ø
Website
http://www.enhedslisten.dk/

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The Red-Green Alliance (Danish: Enhedslisten, literally The Unity List, abbreviated Enhl., Ø) is a socialist1 political party in Denmark.

Contents

History

The party was formed in 1989 as an electoral alliance by three left-wing parties, Left Socialists (VS), Communist Party of Denmark (DKP) and Socialist Workers Party (SAP). Originally the plan was to unite these parties alongside the Green Party (De Grønne), Common Course and Humanist to form a broad-based progressive movement, but this did not materialize.8 A fourth party, the Communist Workers Party (KAP), joined Enhedslisten in 1991. One year earlier the entrance of KAP was vetoed by DKP. KAP was dissolved in 1994.

Prior to the 2007 parliamentary election, the party enlisted Asmaa Abdol-Hamid, a candidate who identifies herself as a Muslim and a socialist.9 She is endorsed by some imams, opposed by others (including those in Hizb-ut-Tahrir), wears an Islamic headscarf and will not shake hands with men.10 These facts, and some of her statements regarding politics and religion, made her the target of much criticism from across the political spectrum. Prominent left wing figures also cited her candidacy as a reason for withdrawing their support from the party.11 An anti-religious network was created within the party with the stated goal of turning the party into a solely atheist party with a materialist–Marxist basis.12

During the campaigning there was some speculation as to whether her candidacy would attract or repel voters.1314 The results of the election were 2.2% for the party, down from 3.4% in the 2005 parliamentary elections. Although not elected, Abdol-Hamid maintained that she had attracted voters to the party. The four seats won by the party went to Frank Aaen, Johanne Schmidt-Nielsen, Line Barfod, and Per Clausen. Asmaa Abdol-Hamid was chosen as substitute for the frontrunner of Enhedslisten in the parliament.citation needed

In the 2011 parliamentary election, the party received 6.7% of the votes and went from 4 to 12 seats.

Membership

1992 1,082 ....
1993 999 -7.7%
1994 1,093 +9.4%
1995 1,189 +8.8%
1996 1,282 +7.8%
1997 1,479 +15.4%
1998 2,023 +36.8%
1999 1,968 -2.7%
2000 1,945 -1.1%
2001 1,992 +2.4%
2002 2,366 +18.8%
2003 2,321 -1.9%
2004 2,524 +8.7%
2005 3,739 +48.1%
2006 4,127 +10.4%
2007 4,099 -0.7%
2008 4,336 +5.8%
2009 4,373 +0.9%
2010 5,111 +16.9%
2011 7,885 +54.3%
2012 9,385 +21.7%

Electoral results

Parliament (Folketinget)

Election year # of
overall votes		  % of
overall vote		  % of
Danish vote		 # of
overall seats won		 # of
Danish seats won		 +/–
1990 54,038 1.7
0 / 179
0 / 175
1994 104,701 3.1
6 / 179
6 / 175
 Increase 6
1998 91,933 2.7
5 / 179
5 / 175
 Decrease 1
2001 82,685 2.4
4 / 179
4 / 175
 Decrease 1
2005 114,123 3.4
6 / 179
6 / 175
 Increase 2
2007 74,982 2.2
4 / 179
4 / 175
 Decrease 2
2011 236,860 6.7
12 / 179
12 / 175
 Increase 8

European Parliament

Note: results of People's Movement against the EU

In previous elections, Enhedslisten has not directly contested elections to the European Parliament, preferring to support the People's Movement against the EU. Some of the party's MP's were considering running an independent list for the 2014 elections.15. However, this idea was dismissed by the General Assembly. 16.

Election year # of
overall votes		  % of
overall vote		  % of
Danish vote		 # of
overall seats won		 # of
Danish seats won		 +/–
1979 365,760 20.9 (#2)
4 / 16
1984 413,808 20.6 (#2)
4 / 16
 Steady 0
1989 338,953 18.9 (#2)
4 / 16
 Steady 0
1994 214,735 10.3 (#5)
2 / 16
 Decrease 2
1999 143,709 7.3 (#6)
1 / 16
 Decrease 1
2004 97,986 5.2 (#8)
1 / 14
 Steady 0
2009 168,555 7.2 (#6)
1 / 13
 Steady 0

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d Parties and Elections in Europe: The database about parliamentary elections and political parties in Europe, by Wolfram Nordsieck
  2. ^ March, Luke (2008). Contemporary Far Left Parties in Europe. Berlin: Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung. p. 3. ISBN 978-3-86872-000-6. 
  3. ^ Edwards, Geoffrey; Georg Wiessala (2000). The European Union: annual review 1998/1999. Wiley-Blackwell. p. 184. ISBN 978-0-631-21598-1. 
  4. ^ Banks, Arthur S.; Thomas C. Muller (1995). Political Handbook of the World 1994-95. CSA Publications. p. 234. ISBN 978-0-933199-10-1. 
  5. ^ London School of Economics and Political Science (1999). Government and opposition, Volume 34. Weidenfeld and Nicolson. p. 73. 
  6. ^ "AKVA3: Valg til regions råd efter område, parti og stemmer/kandidater/køn". Statistics Denmark. Retrieved June 13, 2010. 
  7. ^ "VALGK3: Valg til kommunale råd efter område, parti og stemmer/kandidater/køn". Statistics Denmark. Retrieved June 13, 2010. 
  8. ^ http://www.enhedslisten.dk/enhedslistens-historie
  9. ^ Feminist, socialist, devout Muslim: woman who has thrown Denmark into turmoil, Guardian, May 16, 2007
  10. ^ Imamer anbefaler Asmaa, Kristeligt Dagblad, May 1, 2007
  11. ^ Kære Asmaa, Information, September 1, 2007
  12. ^ Religionskrig hos Enhedslisten, aalborg.dk, September 20, 2007
  13. ^ Asmaa kan sprænge Enh's partiliste i København, Politiken, November 2, 2007
  14. ^ Ekspert: Asmaa har skræmt marxisterne, Politiken, November 1, 2007
  15. ^ Unity puts pressure to People's Movement against the EU (in Danish), Ekstra Bladet, March 27, 2013
  16. ^ http://www.b.dk/politiko/enhedslisten-dropper-at-stille-op-til-eu-valget ] (in danish) , ([Berlingske]), April 27, 2013

External links

Bracketed numbers indicate numbers of seats in the respective parliaments.
Folketing
European Parliament
Parties running in Denmark proper
Parties running in the Faroe Islands
Parties running in Greenland
Candidates for Prime Minister
Other notable candidates