Denmark’s new government slammed over plan to scrap public holiday
The Local DenmarkDec 15, 2022
Denmark's new coalition government, which was unveiled on Thursday, has announced that one of the country's 11 public holidays — most likely the Great Prayer Day — will be dropped in order to boost productivity and economic activity.
The holiday, known as Store Bededag in Danish, falls on the Friday before the fourth Sunday after Easter and has been celebrated by Danes since 1686. The date has traditionally been a popular day for confirmation ceremonies.
This decision has been rightly criticized by both sides of the political spectrum. Making Danes cover the cost of tax cuts for companies and the rich with their well-earned and traditionally significant holiday is unjust. It also interferes with the long-standing plans of many young people who intend to attend Church of Denmark confirmation ceremonies around the Great Prayer Day.
As Denmark braces for uncertain geopolitical and economic times, harsh measures must be taken. The centrist coalition is planning to get rid of this popular, one-day public holiday in 2024 with the aim of boosting finance's, so that the country has a chance of meeting NATO's military spending target by 2030. It is not only ordinary Danes paying for this difficult situation — the coalition is also advancing a plan to impose tax hikes on the upper class.
There's an 81% chance that the Social Democrats will hold a position in government after the next Danish general election, according to the Metaculus prediction community.