This article gives an overview ofliberalism and radicalism in Denmark. It is limited toliberal andradicalegalitarianparties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in the parliament. The sign ⇒ denotes another party in that scheme. For inclusion in this scheme it isn't necessary so that parties labeled themselves as a liberal party.
In Denmark liberalism became a dominant force in 1840, but developed into a conservative direction. After 1870 a second liberal current, based on farmers, arose. This current got finally divided in a social liberal party,Danish Social Liberal Party (Det Radikale Venstre, memberLI,ELDR), and a conservative liberal party,Liberal Party (Venstre Danmarks liberale parti, memberLI,ELDR). The origin of the word Venstre in both party names is to be found in the fact that the major Conservative party in the 19th century was called Right, and Venstre (Left) was formed as an opposition party. Thus it refers to an old left/right division of the political scale, in modern terms Venstre is usually considered a right wing party and Det Radikale Venstre as a centre party.[1]
Below is a timeline listing the name changing and history of the political parties centred on the idea ofliberalism in Denmark. Confusingly the term 'left' is used in the name of some liberal parties in Denmark for historic reasons.[1] It does by no means mean 'left' as in modern 'left wing' orsocialist, but merely that they were on the contemporary left-wing at the time of their naming:
1905: A radical faction of the ⇒ Left Reform Party seceded as the present-dayDanish Social Liberal Party (Det Radikale Venstre, literally Radical Left)
2007: An MP and an MEP defected from the party in May 2007 and formed the Social Liberal/Social ConservativeNy Alliance.
2007: Ny Alliance formed after defections from Radikale Venstre
2008: Ny Alliance changed to a more economically liberal platform. With this change the party changed its name toLiberal Alliance.
2009: Former Social Liberal Party MPSimon Emil Ammitzbøl foundedBorgerligt Centrum, a centre-right party. A few months later, Ammitzbøl and leading members of Borgerligt Centrum left the party to join Liberal Alliance.
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