Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07COPENHAGEN1038
2007-11-23 14:47:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Copenhagen
Cable title:  

DANISH PM RESHUFFLES CABINET, BACKS REFERENDUM ON

Tags:  PGOV PREL ECON SOCI PINR EUN DA 
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VZCZCXRO4059
OO RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHCP #1038 3271447
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 231447Z NOV 07
FM AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3936
INFO RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L COPENHAGEN 001038 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR, EUR/NB
NSC FOR ANSLEY, GERMANO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/23/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON SOCI PINR EUN DA
SUBJECT: DANISH PM RESHUFFLES CABINET, BACKS REFERENDUM ON
EU OPT-OUTS

Classified By: DCM Sandra Kaiser, reasons 1.4b,d

C O N F I D E N T I A L COPENHAGEN 001038

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR, EUR/NB
NSC FOR ANSLEY, GERMANO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/23/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON SOCI PINR EUN DA
SUBJECT: DANISH PM RESHUFFLES CABINET, BACKS REFERENDUM ON
EU OPT-OUTS

Classified By: DCM Sandra Kaiser, reasons 1.4b,d


1. (C) Summary: Ten days after leading his center-right
government to a third term, Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh
Rasmussen November 23 announced changes to his cabinet that
will broaden his coalition but stop short of the generational
shift in leadership that many had anticipated. Rasmussen
kept the key ministries of defense, foreign affairs and
justice intact, reconfirming (largely pro-U.S.) Danish
policies in those areas. Prior to the cabinet reshuffle, the
prime minister released his government's platform for the
next term, emphasizing consensus and including a pledge for a
referendum on Denmark's EU opt-outs on defense, justice and
home affairs, and the euro. Rasmussen's moves to secure
backing beyond his narrow parliamentary majority have so far
been generally well-received. End summary.


2. (SBU) PM Rasmussen put rest to speculation of a major
cabinet shakeup (the foreign, justice and deputy PM slots had
been rumored to be in the mix) by putting forward relatively
modest changes to his government team. Outgoing Environment
Minister Connie Hedegaard has been elevated to head a new
"super-ministry" as climate and energy minister, with her
environment post going to Liberal Party spokesman Troels Lund
Poulsen. Karen Jespersen was named as welfare minister,
another new post and one aimed at reassuring voters concerned
about the government's commitment to public services.
Rasmussen's heir apparent as Liberal party leader, outgoing
Interior and Health Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen (no
relation),will swap portfolios with outgoing Finance
Minister Jakob Axel Nielsen and outgoing Family and Consumer
Affairs Minister Carina Christensen will be transport
minister.


3. (C) The one surprise appointment was Birthe Ronn Hornbech
as integration minister. The 64-year-old Hornbech is known
as an uncompromising, law-and-order type (she has a long
career in the Danish police and has served as the Liberal
Party's justice spokesman since 1994),albeit with a strong
civil libertarian streak, and it is uncertain how well she
will get on with Denmark's immigrant community. Hornbech
favors easing restrictions on asylum seekers, however, and
her appointment should be viewed positively by supporters of
asylum policy reform in the New Alliance and Social Liberal
parties the prime minister is seeking to court. Post intends
to engage Hornbech early to sustain the momentum we have
achieved together with the integration ministry on Muslim
outreach and community building.


4. (C) The previous day, the prime minister released his
government's program for the new term, following days of
negotiations and discussions with government and opposition
party leaders. The platform outlines an agenda designed to
appeal beyond the government's coalition, emphasizing
dialogue and consensus in addressing critical subjects such
as welfare, tax reform and asylum policy. Rasmussen
proposed, for example, a special tax commission to develop
proposals for reducing the income tax burden (suggested by
opposition leader Helle Thorning-Schmidt during the
campaign),and reaffirmed goals for increasing use of
alternative energy, raising development aid levels and
improving health care.


5. (C) The prime minister also indicated the time has come
for Denmark to re-evaluate its 1993 "opt-outs" from EU policy
on security, justice and home affairs, and the euro, and
pledged to hold a referendum on the issue sometime in this
term. Calling the exemptions a "hindrance" to Denmark,
Rasmussen favors terminating the opt-outs. Public opinion
polls show support for the euro has increased significantly
since Danish voters narrowly rejected the adoption of the
common currency in 2000. Elimination of the other opt-outs
also enjoys broad support. Rasmussen declined to be pinned
down on a date for the referendum, but many observers believe
that he will hold the vote soon after the EU treaty has been
ratified (offering voters one EU referendum in place of
another).


6. (C) Comment: The prime minister continues to signal his
determination to seek broad backing for his government, in
recognition of his razor-thin majority and in keeping with
Danish political tradition. His initial moves have been
welcomed cautiously by the potential allies in New Alliance
and within the opposition, but achieving consensus on
concrete issues -- garnering the support of center-left
voters on asylum or foreign aid without alienating the Danish
People's Party, for example -- will be considerably harder.
CAIN