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2011-09-16 07:47:24
Denmark's centre-left has won the country's general election, ending nearly a
decade in opposition.
With all votes counted, the bloc led by Social Democrat leader Helle
Thorning-Schmidt had won a narrow majority in parliament.
She is set to become Denmark's first woman prime minister. Incumbent Lars Lokke
Rasmussen has admitted defeat.
Ms Thorning-Schmidt had campaigned on a platform of tax rises and increased
public spending.
She also promised to roll back tough immigration laws proposed by a junior
partner of the current coalition.
The centre-left bloc won 89 seats in Denmark's 179-seat parliament against 86
for the centre-right. Turnout was high at 87.7%.
"We did it... today we've written history," Ms Thorning-Schmidt told jubilant
supporters.
Mr Rasmussen said he had called Ms Thorning-Schmidt to congratulate her, but
added: "Tonight I hand over the keys to the prime minister's office to Helle
Thorning-Schmidt. And dear Helle, take good care of them. You're only borrowing
them."
The "Blue Bloc" led by Mr Rasmussen has held power in Denmark for a decade.
The country has seen its worst economic downturn since World War II. Although
Denmark is a member of the EU, it has chosen not to adopt the euro.
'12 extra minutes'
Mr Rasmussen's liberal-conservative alliance has long relied on the
anti-immigrant People's Party (DPP) to push legislation through parliament.
Helle Thorning-Schmidt
Aged 44, has led Denmark's Social Democrats since 2005
Nicknamed by some "Gucci Helle" for her taste in designer clothes
Has a reputation for being tough and is credited with reuniting her party
Has a political science degree from the University of Copenhagen
Married to Stephen Kinnock, son of former UK Labour Party leader Neil Kinnock
The recent decision of Denmark, a Schengen state, to reimpose border controls
came after pressure from the DPP, the third-biggest party in parliament.
However, the main issue of the election has been the health of the national
finances.
Ms Thorning-Schmidt campaigned on a platform of tax rises and increased public
spending, the BBC's Thomas Buch-Andersen in Copenhagen reports.
Although Mr Rasmussen was considered to have done well to steer Denmark through
the financial crisis, its economic rebound is seen as sluggish and
disappointing, our correspondent adds.
The economic crisis has turned Denmark's healthy surpluses into deficits,
estimated to climb to 4.6% of GDP next year.
Local banks have also been struggling, with nine taken over by the state since
the start of the crisis in 2008.
Ms Thorning-Schmidt has accused Mr Rasmussen of failing to spur growth and
allowing the deficit to grow.
She advocates increased government spending, along with an unusual plan to make
everyone work 12 minutes more per day, Reuters news agency reports.
An extra hour of productivity each week, the Social Democrats argue, would help
kick-start growth.
"Denmark needs change, Denmark needs to move on and Denmark needs my
leadership," Ms Thorning-Schmidt said.
The Social Democrat leader is a former MEP (member of the European Parliament)
and is married to Stephen Kinnock, son of British Labour Party politicians Neil
and Glenys Kinnock.