The satire movement ‘Surrend’ organised an anti-monarchy protest in Copenhagen recently, reports the AFP.
Demonstrators covered the streets with posters showing the heads of Queen Margrethe II and Prince Consort Henrik in a pool of blood next to a guillotine. The posters were inscribed with the French slogan “Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité” on the bottom.
Surrend founding member Jan Egesborg said the “goal was to spark a debate on the monarchy’s obsolete role in the 21st century, using a strong image that draws people’s attention.”
Another Surrend member, Pia Bertelsen, said: “We think the monarchy’s time has come in Denmark. It is time to put an end to this archaic and anti-democratic system, as during the French Revolution.”
Passersby expressed mixed reactions to the posters.
“I, like most Danes, like the royal family and I think it’s barbaric,” said Camilla Hurhammer, a psychologist.
A woman named Bente said the poster “jumps out at you.” “Maybe they’re right, the monarchy takes itself too seriously,” she said.
When the country became a constitutional monarchy in 1849, the Danish monarchy effectively lost all political power.
go on monarchy, so the stylish Mary of Denmark will continue to enjoy her prada and Chanel, which she deserves
Long live monarchy!
I agree completely with the supporters of constitutional monarchy, especially when talking of the Danish royal family and Queen Margrethe II.
Since some people argues about the costs of supporting a royal family, and I’m from Italy (but I’ve been leaving in Denmark since 2007), here’s a comparison among the two countries:
Denmark: “As of 1 April 2008, the civil list payment totals DKK 66,2 million a year” (source http://kongehuset.dk/publish.php?dogtag=k_en_org_sta). This corresponds to EUR 8.9 millions a year.
Italy: EUR 233 million a year budgeted for 2008 (source http://www.corriere.it/Primo_Piano/Politica/2005/09_Settembre/29/ciampi.shtml)
So, in 2008 Italy’s Head of State costed 26 times more than Denmark’s entire Royal House. If you look at the cost per citizen, in 2008 each Italian paid around 3.9 EUR per year against the 1.6 EUR per year paid by a Dane…
God save Queen Margrethe II!
Kingkongo, do not be hypocritical. We supporters of monarchy always say that constitutional monarchy is stable because it IS stable, in fact it has proven to bethe most stable and democratic system of government, and we can actually support that. Don’t just wave our arguments aside and say “oh that’s what you always say, therefore republics are better”.
In constitutional monarchy, we have an excellent system where the head of government, a politically biased representative of his own party with a political agenda, is still answerable to an apolitical head of state. The Prime Minister tries to undemocratically and unconstitutionally seize power? Nope, the Queen can dismiss him. This check ensures democracy – no rogue Prime Ministers. No matter how hard the politicians can try, they can never hold the highest office in the land, and can never seize the power of the Crown. I think it was Winston Churchill who said, “The Crown is not important for the power it wields, but for the power it denies others.” The thing about the Crown, is that it is an apolitical entity. The Queen/King, who wields the power of the Crown, is usually not able to use the power except on ministerial advice (from the government) or independently in dire and extreme situations.
the above comment is the most tragic , sad and stupid a person can even think…if europe was built by kings and emperors since rome and egypt time why the hell you wanna think that the people dont wanna have a head of state with a crown that represent their own old traditions? if one should take away all what monarchs did and built i suppose all europe will end like america…plastic !oh i like america for holidays but give europe culture and great artistic palaces for ever :) !!!
sorry for you but the people still needs their queen and kings . princess and more… just because if not only for that , regality is not an opinion !!! read history!!!
The above comments are pathetic. There is NO rational argument for sustaining Monarchy anywhere in the world. Just do not avoid the issue by referring to the old over used chestnut of stability. It is so impertinent.
Bloody thirsty republicans in Monarchy free to protest…..peacful Monarchist protests in Republic thrown in jail …hmmm something in me thinks I might just prefer living under a Democratic Parliament but with a non-political traditional Monarch as head of state. Sweden’s Monarchy/Government has never been interfered for over 1000 years and all that time they have had a King as Head of State. Norway is possibly the most politically peacful countries in Europe, because they claim their liberty under the Norwegian Crown. SPain, after decades of of Fascist-Communist civil war, was brought democracy by King Juan-Carlos, who even gave up ALL of his power to the Spanish Parliament on HIS request. The United Kingdom of GB-NI; has only suffered being a republic once in history, Oliver Cromwell, a religious fanatic/socialist dictator; that lasted only 6 years. Most modern European relublics have suffered instability, this could just be coinsidence, or it could have something to do with Constit-Monarchy. Asia on the oter hand, while the King of Buhtan has just gave the country Democracy, the Nepalese Gov has just abolished the Monarchy in favour of a terrorist Party, the Maoists. GOD SAVE CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHY! AND GOD SAVE QUEEN MARGERTHE II!
The idea that Cambodia now enjoys ‘peace, freedom and stability’ is a distasteful joke at best.
And all you can do is cite two stable monarchies? There are plenty of countries around the world which are now free peaceful and stable, after years of war and strife, which are republics.
I don’t think the Danish demonstration was very clever, but good luck to them if they want to rid Denmark of their pointless monarchy.
Constitutional monarchy has proved to be the best system of government overall. The idea that the elected party-political Head of Government should be answerable to an independent non-party political monarch is a good one and has worked very well in the countries where it exists. Constitutional monarchy has brought peace, freedom, and stablility to Cambodia and Spain after decades of ghastly civil war and tyranny.
I have lived under both a constitutional monarchy (U.K.)and a republic (South Africa). Give me Queen Margrethe anyday over these hooligan politician Presidents.
The Swedish Riksdag undemocratically stripped King Carl Gustav of his powers in 1974- powers which were there for the protection of the Swedish People. Now the Danish Social Democrats are trying to do the same in Denmark. The Queen should follow the example of Prince Hans Adam II of Liechtenstein and hold a referendum on the issue. She might end up with more powers than she has now! Thats what happened in Liechtenstein.
These republican politicians actually have very little regard for democracy- I have seen it here in South Africa. They use their office to promote their own private agendas without any regard for the wishes of ordinary people.
Long live H.M. Queen Margrethe II.
The European Monarchies are very tolerant. The macabre show of Danish republicans could be performed without incident. No body takes them seriously. Just two months ago Austrian Monarchists stage a small demonstration, saying that “89 years of republic are enough”. And guess what happened, a liberal (FPÖ) politician wants to prosecute the monarchists for denouncing the republic, which is punishable with up to one year in jail.
Monarchies treat their citizens with much more respect concerning their differing political point of views than republics that cannot tolerate other opinions.