Den Danske Tidende : Imperium og Kongeriget &c.

[Danmark]

Den Danske Tidende
Nationale nyheder i Danmark siden 1714



Hard left seize power in DUCTU

Violence as Jørgensen wins, out-going moderate Manen spat at​

ELSINORE - Ny Venstre's fire-brand, Lars Jørgensen, decisively seized power in a major victory that has seen the moderate Per Manen ousted. The announcement immediately triggered violence in the emergency conference and numerous arrests.

The announcement of Jørgensen's victory was rapturously welcomed by the far-left Ny Venstre delegates who repeatedly chanted "Taber!" (loser) at Manen and his social-democratic supporters, triggering clashes between the delegates which was broadcast live on television. Per Manen, the defeated incumbent social democrat chair of DUCTU, had phlegm spat at him by a nearby women, as he rose to congratulate his opponent. Police later named the woman as Erica Dahl, a well-known communist lesbian rights activist.

The incident triggered yet more violence, this time by Manen supporters, with police and security officials struggling to hold back delegates who tried to rush onto the stage at attack the Ny Venstre executive members in revenge.

Winning by 64%, to Manen's 34% and with 2% abstaining, Jørgensen's victory is a culmination of a DK 2m campaign by the left, that included a major TV and newspaper advertising campaign and 'in the round' talks around Danmark to talk to members directly. Membership levels increased by 19%, with Ny Venstre targeting specific regions of the country that were more favourable to their message. According to the DUCTU constitution, any challenge must reach at least 55% of the total membership throughout the country.

Analysts predict that the win will likely see increased conflict between the government and DUCTU, as the unions up their campaign against the government for improved political rights, higher pay and enhanced working conditions. Jørgensen refused to rule out the formation of a broader political leftist movement to force the government's hand.

The government congratulated DUCTU on following democratic principles in the election but pointedly refused to mention Jørgensen by name.

 

[Montelimar]

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

HM Government looks forward to re-establishing old ties; cultural and economic as well as diplomatic. On a different subject HM Government is concerned at the violence following the win of Lars Jørgensen to head a major political party and hopes this is not a harbinger of things to come.

Charles Martaigne
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Kingdom of Montelimar

 

[Wieserreich]

You must be registered for see images

Reichsministerium des Auswärtigen
Imperial Ministry for Foreign Affairs
​

"With our country sharing long cultural and historical ties with the Danish nation to the south, it is in the interests of His Imperial Majesty's Cabinet of Ministers to open up new diplomatic avenues for cooperation in financial, political, security and diplomatic matters. We welcome the Danish opening to the Empire as a move of progress.

"Leaving behind us the happenings and independence after the Reformation Wars and the War of the Roses, the Imperial Cabinet wishes to extend the hand of co-prosperity and cooperation to its Danish counterpart, and seek to cooperate in order to ensure Danmark's stability, progress and prosperity, as well as promote the safety of all ethnic Germans in the country.

"As such, we express our interest for a meeting between our respective Ministers for Foreign Affairs, in order to discuss the possibility for a series of bilateral agreements of a commercial, diplomatic and security nature. It is our desire to contribute to the security of Southern Germania by all means possible and necessary."

Regards,
Heinrich Maximilian Graf von und zu Babelfisch
Imperial Minister for Foreign Affairs

 

[Papal States]

Secretary of the Holy Office

Due to certain developments, the Papal States are unable to respond in a fundamental way to the most noble gesture made by Danmark, but we are sure our countries will get closer to each other in the future.

 

[Serenierre]

Foreign Office

We congratulate Mr. Lars Jørgensen in his victory in the election. We hope that in future times our two countries shall continue to work together and build upon existing ties. Belmont sends its salutations to the Danish people.

 

[Danmark]

Foreign Office

We congratulate Mr. Lars Jørgensen in his victory in the election. We hope that in future times our two countries shall continue to work together and build upon existing ties. Belmont sends its salutations to the Danish people.

Foreign Office

Danmark returns the demonstrations of friendship expressed by Belmont.

For clarification, the election of Mr Jorgensen was a matter for the Danish trade union organisation, DUCTU, and is no connection to the election of any government of this country.

 

[Danmark]

Den Danske Tidende
Nationale nyheder i Danmark siden 1714



Riots and state of emergency in the north

Scores killed, millions of krone worth of damage​

NYBORG - The army was drafted in yesterday to quell an leftist insurrection in the northern city of Nyborg as Ny Venstre activists burned down buildings, attacked the police HQ and barricaded the main access routes into the city by using burning cars. Earliest estimates indicate around 85 people were killed, 25 of those schoolchildren as a school bus caught light as it was caught by an incendiary device. Another man was killed as his gasoline lorry was hijacked and he was pushed out of the cab onto the floor causing him to break his neck.

Running battles were fought between the leftists and local police which saw much of downtown Nyborg in flames and covered by thick acrid smoke seen from 30 miles away. Estimates place the damage at DK 400m. This was added to by widespread looting of department stores and local banks.

2000 soldiers of the XIIIth and XXII division were helicoptered in from around the country to join the local forces who struggled to restore order but most of the damage had already been done. Much of the centre of the city was barricaded off and a bridge over the river Strand was blown up, forcing the army to make a 6 mile diversion to cross. Once there, they chased the militants through the streets, killing some, and attempted to bring the situation under control. 8 soldiers were killed when they were ambushed in an alley and shot at point-blank range before their bodies were stripped and thrown into the city's river.

This is the latest in a series of events to trouble Danmark in recent times but nothing has been seen on this scale so far. The increasingly radical leftists have taken heart with the election of Lars Jørgensen, as head of DUCTU, who has used his position to attempt to leverage concessions from the government over pay and conditions but militants have upped their game to attack the state.

The Statsminister, Jens Peder Hillerød, immediate condemned the events as an "outrage" and promised that justice would be duly served to the perpetrators. He added:

" I am not in the business of surrender. Mark my words, we will get you".

 

[Lorraine]

Govenor de la Province de Soisson

It is unsettling that so much violence is occuring so soon after Danmark reopens itself to the rest of the world.

Charles Reneau
Govenor de Soisson

(OOC: Soisson is Lorraine's detached province in the north in which two-thirds border Danmark)

 

[Socialist Commonwealth]

Commissariate for Foreign Affairs

Our condolences go to those who have been caught in the crossfire, their families and friends. Hopefully the violence can soon end, once state repression is overcome and freedom be achieved.

 

[Confederal Republics]

Ministry of External Affairs
Commonwealth of Cornavia

The Commonwealth government is worried over the latest upsurge in armed violence in Danmark, and urges the local authorities to act in order to preserve law and order within a democratic context. Deliberate armed violence cannot be tolerated by any civilized society as a means of influencing political decision-making, and the Commonwealth strongly urges the Danish authorities to act against these currently active radical-leftist elements.

In addition, the Commonwealth of Cornavia is willing to offer consultation and material aid to the Danish government in order to prevent further unrest and violence in the country.

Regards,
Mr. William Fenner,
Minister of External Affairs,
Commonwealth of Cornavia

 

[Danmark]

Den Danske Tidende
Nationale nyheder i Danmark siden 1714



Country at risk of civil war as yet another general strike is declared

Great fears of major uprising and clashes, royals moved to safety​

ELSINORE - Danes faces the largest and most pervasive general strike in their history as marathon last-ditch talks between representatives of DUCTU and the government collapsed in spectacular fashion yesterday evening, heralding 14 days of crippling strikes.

The 17-hour long talks, held between the Danish Statsminister and leftist-head of the Danish Trade Unions, Lars Jørgensen, collapsed as a visibly enraged Jørgensen and his delegation stormed out to address the awaiting press pack to say: "They [the strikes] are on -tell that to the Danish people."

The strike is expected to set the country back once again as it struggles to recover from the ravages of the last strike and deal with the consequences of a severe economic recession. However, this 14-day strike will be single largest peacetime crisis the country has ever faced, involving around 65% of all trade unions, 30% of the entire workforce.

Events moved swiftly with an estimated 15,000 leftist protestors descending upon the Danish capital, Elsinore, leading to speculation that there had been considerable organisation going on between leftist groups, headed by Ny Venstre, while the talks were being deliberately and cynically engineered to collapse by the left so that they could exploit them to place blame on the government.

The government responded immediately by dispatching 5,000 troops focused on defending the capital city's centre, government builidings, the business district, major thoroughfares, and the royal residences. However there are fears that they will not be able to withstand the huge volume of protestors if, as some expect, events turn for the worse. Numerous insiders have suggested that militant cells have been preparing for a major insurrection with simultaneous operations being coordinated in various Danish cities. They have also voiced deep disquiet at a faction of the hard left who are prepared to use paramilitary violence.

There has been complete silence from the military who appear to be in a media black-out.

This concern is made worse with the rise of the hard-right, particularly the Danish Resurrectionist Movement, who despite playing catch-up to the agenda of the left, have become more focused in recent times. The eminent Rausch Professor of Politics at Elsinore Universitet, Professor Henrik Nubælt, made headlines last week when he stated that a clash between the two factions will "tip Danmark into civil war and lead to military intervention. This country will not be the same".

As a sign of the seriousness of the situation, members of the royal family, excluding the King, Queen and senior members, have been evacuated to the Lindholm Slot, on the Danish south coast. It is not expected that the King and the core royal family to follow suit at this stage.

 

[Remuria]

Foreign Affairs Department

The Free State of Wendmark calls upon all sides in the dispute to refrain from using violence and concentrate upon purely peaceful and democratic means of resolving the issue. The Free State further calls upon the trade unions to remember the responsibility that weighs upon their shoulders to ensure that their activities do not severely damage the national economy of Danmark, which would be detrimental to all Danish citizens and to the members of the trade unions themselves. Use of paramilitary violence is a completely undemocratic move that only damages the credibility of the trade unionist movement in Danmark. This said, the Danish government should also provide credible solutions to solve the crisis, solutions that could objectively not be rejected in good will by the DUCTU.

The Free State is ready to offer a neutral venue for both the Danish government and the DUCTU at the scenic alpine city of Pratteln in eastern Wendmark. Should this aid be required by the Danish government and the DUCTU, the Free State shall render it, with the caveat that the Free State shall not interfere into the interior affairs of the Danish Kingdom and concentrate purely on acting as a mediator in the dispute.

 

[Socialist Commonwealth]

Commissariate for Foreign Affairs

Our solidarity is with our fellow brothers and sister in Danmark. The Danish working class has understood that the conservative nonsense of "national unity" and "national stability" or "economic prosperity" being for the good of all is a mere phrase that is unable to hide the fact that the very nature of capitalism, its inherent contradictions and its need for evergrowing markets mean that there can be no compromise and no prosperity for all. We have to fight to end the expropriation by the rules of market economy.

If there is anything the Danish socialist movement needs, it may feel free to contact the Carentanian embassy.

 

[Batavië]

You must be registered for see images

We strongly urge the Government of Danmark and other concerned parties to accept the generous offer made by Wendmark of Good Offices for the use of negotiations. The use of force will only enflame the root of the problem. Batavië's own experience with radical groups is proof that only diplomacy works, never violence.

 

[Papal States]

A member of the diplomatic corps of the Papal States to a collegue: "It is a good idea too send them to the Carentanian embassy, they can give them a passport and that red scum can join their fellow workers in the paradise of poverty and meet the devil on earth".

 

[Danmark]

Den Danske Tidende
Nationale nyheder i Danmark siden 1714



Danmark is admitted to the LFS

Major coup for Hillerød, culmination of months of talks​

ELSINORE - Statsminister Hillerød announced today the formal admission of Danmark to the ranks of the League of Free States (LFS). Seen as a major coup of the Hillerød-led Liberal-Agrarian governing coalition, especially given recent calamities that seem to have beset the Danes, the news was widely welcomed though the opposition Social Democrats were scathing.

Announced to a full and stormy session of the Folkhuset, Hillerød declared that "This is probably the single greatest step that this country has taken to announce to the world that Danmark is back and that we intend to play a full and active role in world affairs. The closeted world of isolationism is well and truly six-feet under where it belongs. We've nailed our colours to the mast".

The news was greeted with rapturous applause and shouts of congratulations from the Liberal house members. However, the Convenor (Speaker) of the chamber had to restore order as opposition Social Democrats and left-members jeered and voiced their disapproval.

The admission follows several months of tough negotiations between the Danish government and members of the LFS. Parallel consultations also took place within Danmark itself, notably with armed forces chiefs who were keen advocates of entry to what is one of Europe's main defence organisations and seen as a significant hawkish element driving the talks.

Controversy was sparked earlier on this year, however, when a group of 5 Liberal parliamentary members resigned from the party and joined the Social Democrats in protests at what the Hillerød government was embarking in. They wrote a letter to this newspaper that sparked the heated intellectual and popular 'Hvem er vi?' (Who Are We?) debates over whether Danmark might be joining the wrong organisation and that the natural home was actually the European Defence Federation (EDF). However, despite a mixed public response to the LFS talks, most opinion polls have consistently indicated an approval of between 60-70% for most the past year.

 

[Danmark]

Den Danske Tidende
Nationale nyheder i Danmark siden 1714



Tysks threaten to block Danish Northern Council bid

Tysk government slated for obstinacy ​

ELSINORE - The Foreign Office today dismissed the announcement by the Tyskreich government that it intends to veto the Danish application to join the Nordic Council as "unhelpful" and "undemocratic".

The response followed the swift reaction of the Tysk government to the news of Danmark's accession to the League of Free States.

In its statement, Tyskreich declared that it objected to Danmark's entry, now that it was an LFS member, in addition to an unwillingness to adopt Danish as an official language of the Nordic Council - a key stumbling block to entry.

The Foreign Office sought to play down the rift but also made it clear that whilst it disagreed with the Tysk reaction, the news would not deter it from proceeding with the accession negotiations, currently being held in Batavia with the Danish application being represented by Prince Anders, and that it would rely on the "internal democratic process, exercised by all of its constituent parts" before making a full statement.

However, a government source, who did not want to be named, slammed the Tysk administration and claimed that the Danish government had been "smelling the wind" for some time and that it had detected a Tysk reluctance to admit Danmark.

"Some have come to the conclusion that the Tysk's have been very reluctant to admit Danmark for some time and are just using the LFS entry as just another excuse, or arrow in its quiver , to go back to the [Nordic] council to tell tales and exploit it to get its own way. They just seem to give the impression that the Nordic Council is their own "bitch" and play-thing, and that their ego doesn't like other nations apparently getting in on the act and trespassing. They're acting as if THEY are the entire NC.It's intolerable,

undemocratic, tramples over other NC nations, and an insult. We've been working out our guts to do what we can to emerge from isolation and maintain good relations with most countries, for Tyskreich to turn their backs. They've got a lot to answer for and blame lies squarely at their door".

 

[Danmark]

Den Danske Tidende
Nationale nyheder i Danmark siden 1714



NC talks are "finished" - Fulk

Vice Statsminister exposed by undercover reporter, no official comment​

ELSINORE - The Liberal-Agrarian coalition government has become embroiled in an embarassing situation, as the leader of the junior Agrarian and Vice Statsminister, Svend Fulk, was exposed by an undercover reporter saying that Danmark's chances of becoming a member of the Northern Council as over.

The revelations, reported in the Danish tabloid newspaper "Hej!", appear to have caused a great deal of embarassment and a reported "blistering row" between the two statesman. In particular, it is a major headache for the leader of the senior Liberal Party and Statsminister, Jens Peder Hillerød, who has been a keen advocate of NC entry, despite the luke-warm response of his Agrarian partners.

Recorded at the Hagerup Hotel, an apparently slightly inebriated Fulk dismissed the Danish accession talks and said that they were to all intents over.

"There's not a cat in hell's chance that we'll even manage to get our foot in the door. It's bloody obvious that they won't budge on the Danish language issue and neither will we. Fact is, they don't give a buggery about the consequences of if we were to back down on this".

Asked what exactly brought him to this conclusion he was scathing.

"Look, certain countries, like those fucking Tysks, run the Northern Council. Because they don't like that Danmark joined the LFS, they get all uppity about it. To be honest, I've never been keen anyway. I've told Jens [Hillerød] about it many a time, but he just runs rough-shod over my party. Point is, they'd have fucked up our agriculture and put a squeeze on our farmers... well, that's how I see it. They'd have been interested in taking our markets and flooding us with shit food and other rubbish. I thought a long time ago that it was a lot of bullcrap. Looks like I'm going to be right".

The opposition Social Democrats have called on Fulk to resign. An official statement described the Fulk revelations as:

"A complete embarassment to the Kingdom of Danmark. The Vice Statsminister has no dignity or respect and does not deserve to hold a such as senior and important ministry. He has dragged the good name of the Kingdom of Danmark into the mud. He should go, and go now. Furthermore, the expose has shed light on real divisions between the coalition partners on such an important issue as this. If they act that this on the Northern Council, what are they like on other, potentially more important, issues?".

Known for his plain speaking, it does not a appear that Fulk can realistically weather the storm and remain in office. There are also serious questions as to whether the storm will engulf the entire coalition and bring it down, forcing fresh elections. However, the situation is made the more complicated and urgent as Danmark struggles to cope with its latest massive general strike.

Needless to say, Fulk has a reputation as a vicious political street-fighter. The most famous example in recent times was when he punched a newspaper reporter in the face following allegations that he'd had an affair with the senator's 17-year old daughter and refused to apologise saying : "The asshole deserved it".

 

[Wieserreich]

You must be registered for see images

Reichsministerium des Auswärtigen
Imperial Ministry for Foreign Affairs
​

"His Imperial Majesty's Cabinet of Ministers sends its regards to His Royal Majesty's Government of Denmark, and expresses its wishes for continued strong bilateral relations of commercial, diplomatic and political nature.

"It is our hope that Danish-Wieser relations will continue to prosper irrespective of the Kingdom of Denmark's alignment with the League of Free States, and that Wieser armed neutrality will prove to be a strongpoint in bilateral relations that can hopefully lead to warm cooperation.

"We are concerned over recent developments in your country, however, and advice both government and opposition to remain calm and consider common good more than political gains. The Empire will remain a strong supporter of stability in the Kingdom of Denmark, and we can provide any assistance deemed necessary by our two governments."

Regards,
Heinrich Maximilian Graf von und zu Babelfisch
Imperial Minister for Foreign Affairs

 

[Danmark]

Foreign Office

The Kingdom of Danmark maintains a keen and concerted policy of peaceful relations with all it's immediate neighbours on the basis that the Kingdom is treated with reciprocal respect.

As regards the relations between the Kingdom of Danmark and the Weise Empire, His Majesty's government believes that it has no national interest - politically, economically, or militarily - for it's existing cordial relations to be altered.

The relations between our two countries are, we believe, conducted on a basis of mutual respect and love of peace and harmony which is rooted in the deep historical ties between our peoples.

On the issue of the recent accession of the Kingdom of Danmark to the League of Free States, we do not believe that this poses any threat to the continuance of the said Dano-Weise relations on the basis that the Empire of Weise is not a member of any opposing military and defensive alliance in the fullest expression of the common understanding, or indeed a threat to the Kingdom of Danmark. Our existing relations and status permit our two Nations to retain independence in spirit and a high degree of self-determination. If this situation were to change, we would obviously reassess our policy to react to the changed circumstances.

As a constituent member of the League of Free States, it follows that the Kingdom of Danmark will be free to take it's own decisions, together with our partners, as and when necessary responding to events as and when they occur. But, so long as the current state of affairs between our two countries remains in their current amicable and cooperative nature, it is not our intention to see any steps taken to alter this.