AFTER the June 2, 1992, Danish referendum which rejected the Maastricht Treaty on European union the initiative passed into the hands of the political parties and the government. The grassroots campaigns came together for the "no" vote but were not united on an overall alternative or even on a political response to the situation created by the "no" victory. ÅGE SKOVRIND - October 9, 1992
A LTHOUGH the referendum
result also to a certain extent reflected a rejection of the government as such, the position of the latter was never challenged. The Social Democracy called for new elections but did not make this a central
In parliament, the "no" majority among the population was represented only by the Socialist People's Party (Socialistisk Folkepartei - SF) with 15 seats and the far right Progress Party (Fremkridtspartiet) with 12 seats. The government called for collaboration and unity of all political parties to reach a solution to the "extremely difficult situation Denmark is facing in the forthcoming negotiations with the EC", as the government put it.
The Progress Party responded by sticking quite firmly to its "no" position arguing, along narrowly nationalist lines, that there is nothing to negotiate, while the SF favoured a "positive" interpretation of the reasons for a "no" majority -an interpretation that should legitimize a new agreement between Denmark and the EC.
Outside parliament, the People's Movement Against EC split at its national conference in September. Three of the Movement's four members of the European Parliament, together with its best known spokespersons have gone over to
for influence on, or even participation in, such a government. Age
November 9, 1992 the newly created June Movement. Remaining in the People's Movement — a majority of the delegates — are many of the grassroots activists, several far left groups (mainly Stalinist) and hardcore nationalists.
However, neither the People's Movement nor any other of the "no" campaigns are really mass campaigns and relatively few activists are involved. This is very different to the situation in 1972 (and to that now emerging in Sweden and Norway).
There are several issues involved in the split, including personal disagreements and the movement's finances, but basically the division goes back some years and was evident up until the referendum. Top leaders of the People's Movement initiated "Denmark '92" which was renamed the "June Movement" after the referendum. Unlike the People's Movement, "Denmark '92" was not against the EC as such. It only opposed the Maastricht union and was consciously formed as a broader movement. There is also a real change in orientation towards accepting the EC institutions and pursuing a "realistic" policy there.
Over the summer, everyone was awaiting the result of the French referendum. However, the general situation did not become clearer after that, with big problems for Maastricht appearing in Britain and the crisis of the European Monetary System.
The June Movement demanded to be included in the discussions with the poli tical parties, but the government refused
This Movement insisted that the Maastricht Treaty is dead and and if there are any new agreements between the EC and Denmark, they must be open to countries now applying for EC membership. *
DENMARK / TRANSPORT