Danish voters headed to polling stations on Tuesday in a snap election that could deliver a messy political stalemate.
A new centrist party founded by former prime minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen may hold the balance of power after polling day.
Late polls suggested the left-wing “red bloc” led by Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen’s Social Democrats will win the most seats.
But neither they nor the “blue bloc” of right-leaning parties are projected to win an overall majority.
“No one can count to 90 without Lars Lokke,” one newspaper headline said, referring to the number of seats needed for a majority.
The election was triggered by a scandal concerning the bungled mass slaughter of mink, who were found to be spreading a mutation of Covid-19.
The cull decimated Denmark’s fur industry and led to investigations that found the government acted illegally and misled the public.
Ms Frederiksen, 44, was forced to call an election but is running for another term on a no-experiments message in stormy times.
She voted early at a badminton centre turned into a polling booth north-west of Copenhagen.
“This election could be really close, and there is a risk that there will be a blue government after today,” she said.
Jakob Ellemann-Jensen, a Liberal Party candidate for prime minister, is calling for healthcare reform, a tax freeze and to keep pursuing the mink scandal.
His party wants a targeted increase in immigration to fill labour shortages in the Danish economy.
Mr Ellemann-Jensen is openly courting the support of Mr Rasmussen, himself a former Liberal prime minister from 2009 to 2011 and 2015 to 2019.
“If you want the things you dream of, which were grown in our common backyard, then come home,” Mr Ellemann-Jensen said in one TV debate.
Ms Frederiksen, whose government has taken a hard line on immigration, is promising to pursue a deal with Rwanda similar to the one it has with the UK.
She has signalled she would be willing to lead a unity government and would consider reforms to health care.
But Mr Rasmussen is keeping his options open after seeing his new Moderate Party climb in the polls.
The party is promising to bring people together to tackle issues such as integration and the fraying welfare state.
“Our focus in the election campaign has been politics and we talk about something, not someone,” Mr Rasmussen recently said.
Mr Rasmussen has bounced back from political setbacks before, including election defeats and a scandal involving luxury suits paid for with expenses.
Polls suggest the Moderate pitch is cutting through most among people in Copenhagen and those who like Mr Rasmussen personally.
Although the Moderates are unlikely to be the largest party, there has been speculation that Mr Rasmussen could seek the top job in a unity government.
He has remained coy on that subject, saying he does not expect to be prime minister but would take the job if offered it.
It has sparked comparisons to the hit TV drama Borgen, in which the leader of a centrist party manoeuvres her way to becoming Danish prime minister.
The first results are expected after polls close at 8pm local time on Tuesday.
In a tight race, the four seats allocated to the Danish territories of the Faroe Islands and Greenland could prove decisive.
The End of Loneliness
Benedict Wells
Translated from the German by Charlotte Collins
Sceptre
Men’s singles
Group A: Son Wan-ho (Kor), Lee Chong Wei (Mas), Ng Long Angus (HK), Chen Long (Chn)
Group B: Kidambi Srikanth (Ind), Shi Yugi (Chn), Chou Tien Chen (Tpe), Viktor Axelsen (Den)
Women’s Singles
Group A: Akane Yamaguchi (Jpn), Pusarla Sindhu (Ind), Sayaka Sato (Jpn), He Bingjiao (Chn)
Group B: Tai Tzu Ying (Tpe), Sung Hi-hyun (Kor), Ratchanok Intanon (Tha), Chen Yufei (Chn)
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Water waste
In the UAE’s arid climate, small shrubs, bushes and flower beds usually require about six litres of water per square metre, daily. That increases to 12 litres per square metre a day for small trees, and 300 litres for palm trees.
Horticulturists suggest the best time for watering is before 8am or after 6pm, when water won't be dried up by the sun.
A global report published by the Water Resources Institute in August, ranked the UAE 10th out of 164 nations where water supplies are most stretched.
The Emirates is the world’s third largest per capita water consumer after the US and Canada.
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Globalization and its Discontents Revisited
Joseph E. Stiglitz
W. W. Norton & Company
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants
Racecard
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Going grey? A stylist's advice
If you’re going to go grey, a great style, well-cared for hair (in a sleek, classy style, like a bob), and a young spirit and attitude go a long way, says Maria Dowling, founder of the Maria Dowling Salon in Dubai.
It’s easier to go grey from a lighter colour, so you may want to do that first. And this is the time to try a shorter style, she advises. Then a stylist can introduce highlights, start lightening up the roots, and let it fade out. Once it’s entirely grey, a purple shampoo will prevent yellowing.
“Get professional help – there’s no other way to go around it,” she says. “And don’t just let it grow out because that looks really bad. Put effort into it: properly condition, straighten, get regular trims, make sure it’s glossy.”
10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
Cryopreservation: A timeline
- Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
- Ovarian tissue surgically removed
- Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
- Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
- Full hormone production regained within 4-6 months
