The New Right (Denmark)

The New Right (Denmark)
Name	Nye Borgerlige
Native name	Nye Borgerlige
Leader	Pernille Vermund
Founder	Pernille Vermund
Founded	2015
Headquarters	Copenhagen
Position	Right-wing to far-right
Seats1 title	Folketing

The New Right (Denmark) is a Danish political party founded in 2015 by Pernille Vermund and Peter Seier Christensen. The party positions itself on the right to far-right of the political spectrum and emphasizes strict immigration controls, Danish cultural identity, and economic liberalism. It has competed in elections for the Folketing, interacted with parties such as the Venstre, the Danish People's Party, and the Conservative People's Party, and taken part in national debates involving figures like Mette Frederiksen and Lars Løkke Rasmussen.

History

The party was established in 2015 amid debates following the 2015 Danish general election and the governance of Helle Thorning-Schmidt. Founders Pernille Vermund and Peter Seier Christensen launched the movement after experiences with local politics in Tønder Municipality and business circles connected to Maersk-era economic discourse. Early activity included campaigns in the 2017 municipal elections, contesting seats in municipalities such as Copenhagen, Aarhus, and Odense. After failing to cross the threshold in its first national attempts, the party won representation in the Folketing in 2019, joining a parliamentary landscape dominated by blocs involving Social Democrats (Denmark), Radikale Venstre, and right-aligned blocs led by Venstre. Internal developments have included leadership contests, organizational reforms following campaigns against parties like the Danish People's Party and larger conservative platforms, and strategic positioning during the 2022 cabinet formation under Mette Frederiksen.

Ideology and Policies

The party's platform combines positions associated with national conservatism, right-wing populism, and classical liberal economic stances seen in documents comparable to manifestos from Folketing parties. It advocates stringent immigration and asylum policies interacting with debates about the Schengen Agreement and the Dublin Regulation, strong emphasis on Danish cultural heritage tied to institutions like the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, and proposals for tax reform resonant with policies from Liberal Alliance. On law and order issues the party has referenced policing frameworks in municipalities such as Aalborg and Esbjerg, and critiqued judicial and correctional arrangements linked to historic cases like the Lille Thorup controversy. Economic positions favor deregulation and reduced welfare spending akin to reforms promoted by Ole Sohn-era critics, while maintaining support for NATO membership and foreign policy alignment with United States and European Union partners, often comparing stances to those of Donald Trump supporters and UK Conservatives on sovereignty.

Organisation and Leadership

Leadership has centered on founder Pernille Vermund with prominent figures including Peter Seier Christensen, various parliamentary spokespeople, and local chairpersons in regions such as Capital Region of Denmark and Region Zealand. The party's internal structure comprises a national executive, regional branches in constituencies like North Jutland and South Denmark, and youth wings parallel to groups linked historically to parties like Dansk Folkeparti Ungdom. Funding sources and membership growth have been scrutinized alongside similar dynamics in parties like Alternativet and Socialist People's Party. Organizational decisions have been influenced by political operators who previously worked with Venstre and media figures tied to outlets such as TV 2 (Denmark) and DR.

Electoral Performance

Electoral results include entry into the Folketing after the 2019 general election, with seat counts fluctuating in subsequent elections and by-elections, competing in regions traditionally strong for Danish People's Party and Conservative People's Party. Performance in municipal elections showed variable successes in municipalities like Roskilde and Fredericia, with opinion polling by institutes such as YouGov and Gallup Danmark tracking support spikes around national debates involving leaders like Pernille Vermund and national crises such as the European migrant crisis. Election campaigns have been notable for media strategies referencing high-profile politicians including Inger Støjberg and economic commentators with ties to Copenhagen Business School.

Controversies and Criticism

The party has faced criticism from opponents including Social Democrats (Denmark), The Red–Green Alliance, and human rights groups such as Amnesty International. Controversies have involved rhetoric on immigration compared to positions of Danish People's Party and incidents debated in the Folketing involving statements about minority communities referenced alongside cases like the Cartoon Crisis. Internal disputes over strategy and leadership have been reported in outlets such as Berlingske and Politiken, with critics citing parallels to Europe of Nations and Freedom-aligned movements and commenting on rhetoric reminiscent of Marine Le Pen-supporting parties. Legal and ethical scrutiny touched on campaign finance and public statements examined by constitutional commentators from institutions like University of Copenhagen and Aarhus University.

Influence and Relations with Other Parties

The party has influenced public debates on migration policy alongside Danish People's Party and Inger Støjberg's initiatives, pressured Venstre and Conservative People's Party on law-and-order platforms, and been part of informal right-leaning coalitions affecting negotiations with Social Liberal Party and The Alternative in parliamentary votes. Internationally, it has been compared to parties such as Alternative for Germany, Fidesz, and Law and Justice (Poland), and has engaged with think tanks and NGOs connected to transnational networks including EMI-style forums. Its presence has reshaped policy discussions in the Folketing and local councils, prompting responses from center-left leaders like Mette Frederiksen and center-right leaders like Lars Løkke Rasmussen.

Category:Political parties in Denmark Category:Conservative parties Category:2015 establishments in Denmark