Pick Your Party

As the first election posters for the major parties started showing up in mid-October, I was amused both by the universality of political campaigns and my sorry attempts at guessing what the parties were promising.  Copenhagen and the trains were the only places with posters that really focused on issues, while the suburbs were just plagued by a face and a name/party name on every light pole down the main streets.

But all of that was nothing compared to this past week, as parties geared up for the kommune (municipal) elections on Tuesday.  I knew Denmark had a multi-party system, but this was just insane.  Not only did the Venstre ("left") party hand out croissants Monday morning as people entered the train stations, but the streets of Copenhagen suffered from a poster explosion of more designs and party names than I could count.  In my opinion, some of them were the type that had no business in politics--existing only for the sake of one agenda (the most vocal of which was a party hoping to save Christiania).  Granted, I'm not exactly happy with the American stuck-with-two-parties system either, where many voters have to sacrifice some of their opinions in order to prioritize others, or choose solely on social issues (this includes myself), because it's what divides our country the most.  However, I need to learn more about both systems before I can decide which I prefer.

And surprisingly, only the poster with the picture of the blowup doll was fake, while the Liberal Alliance's promise for free parking and the satirical recommendations of the Nihilistic People's Party were completely legitimate.  Though, to be fair, I don't believe the NPP was even trying to win, but instead pointing out the failures of politics.  According to their website, they want to get rid of church bells, save baby seals, and make the metro more lively with psychedelic colors.

The Red-Green Alliance/Unity List--the far left party;  not sure what it says on it, though.












"Stop churchbells!  Fuck your salvation--we have a hangover."