Denmark. Thousands of Danes on the streets. In defense of a national holiday

70 buses with trade unionists from various industries, from teachers to construction workers, arrived in Copenhagen.

– We hope that the government will listen to us and see that this is a public matter, a reform that should not be carried out – underlined the president of FH Lizette Risgaard at the rally. In her opinion, the draft of the changes should be withdrawn from the parliament and the matter settled during tripartite talks with unions and employers.

The head of the nurses’ union, Grete Christensen, called the government’s actions “undemocratic”.

The act eliminating the holiday from 2024 is already being processed in the parliament. The resignation from the day off is expected to bring savings of three billion crowns (€400 million) and to the defense budget. Danish authorities want in connection with the Russian invasion of Ukraine increase military spending to 2% of GDP GDP by 2030.

Social Democratic Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen argued, presenting the proposal to abolish the holiday, that “everyone must contribute and work a little more”.

According to the latest poll published on Sunday by the newspaper “Ekstra Bladet” 75 percent. Danes oppose the liquidation of the Great Day of Prayer. Opponents include voters from the ruling coalition of the Danish Social Democratic Party, the centrist Moderates party and the centre-right Liberal Party. These groups have the majority.

The Holy Day of Prayer was introduced in the late 18th century to replace other abolished church holidays and falls on the fourth Friday after Easter.

IN Denmark 73 percent of the population of six million belong to the Lutheran Danish National Church, although only 3 percent regularly attend services. In recent years, the spring festival is mainly used by the Danes for outdoor recreation.