Venstre (Denmark)

Venstre (in Danish literally: Left) is in electoral size the largest political party in Denmark, ideologically based on free market Liberalism, now a right-of-centre party. The party is a member of Liberal International and sits with the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party in the European Parliament. In the 2005 parliamentary elections, it received 29% of the vote, and 52 out of 179 seats. It is led by Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the Prime Minister, and governs in coalition with the Conservative People's Party.

History

Venstre, or the Left in English, was founded in 1870 under the name Det Forenede Venstre (The United Left). It was formed through the merger of three parliamentary factions (whom all had identified themselves as leftist in the then context). From 1895-1910 it was known as Venstrereformpartiet (Left Reform Party), and after that as Venstre.

Related Topics:
1870 - 1895 - 1910

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Venstre was traditionally a party of the landed interests, especially in the countryside. It also represented much of the rural population. After the 1960s it was reoriented as a more classical liberal party.

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Since 1953 the party has been in power 10 times:

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• 1950-53 with the Conservative People's Party
• 1968-71 with the Conservative People's Party and the Danish Social Liberal Party
• 1973-75
• 1978-79 with the Social Democratic Party
• 1982-87 with the Conservative People's Party, Centre Democrats, and the Christian People's Party
• 1987-88 with the Conservative People's Party, Centre Democrats, and the Christian People's Party
• 1988-90 with the Conservative People's Party and The Danish Social Liberal Party
• 1990-93 with the Conservative People's Party
• 2001-2005 with the Conservative People's Party
• 2005- with the Conservative People's Party

Venstre Prime Ministers since 1953:

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• Erik Eriksen (30/10 1950 ? 30/9 1953)
• Poul Hartling (19/12 1973 ? 13/2 1975)
• Anders Fogh Rasmussen (27/11 2001 - )

Venstre Leaders since 1953

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• 1950-1965, Erik Eriksen
• 1965-1977, Poul Hartling
• 1977-1984, Henning Christophersen
• 1984-1998, Uffe Ellemann-Jensen
• 1998-, Anders Fogh Rasmussen

Origin of the name

The fact that the major right-wing political party in a country calls itself 'Left' is often confusing to many foreign (and sometimes Danish) observers. The name has, however, its historical explation. At the time of its foundation, Venstre occupied the more leftist position in the then Danish parliament. Their opponents, Højre (Right), is the fore-runner of the present Conservative People's Party. In current Danish politics there is a clear distinction between the concepts of Venstre (Left, i.e. the party bearing that name) and Venstrefløj (Left-wing, i.e. the socialist and communist parties).

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