It happens too often that protesters and climate activists block traffic, and therefore the punishment should be harsher, believes the Danish Democrats.
According to party chair Inger Støjberg (DD), the fines should be increased by 200 percent, and there should be a sentence of 14 days of unconditional imprisonment in case of repeat offenses. She specifically mentions climate activists and Palestine protesters, who in her eyes are often a "terrible nuisance to many people".
- It is ordinary, hard-working Danes who will pay the price for these climate activists and now Palestine protesters taking to the road, she says.
She emphasizes that these are demonstrations that have not been reported and are therefore illegal.
- We have a constitutionally guaranteed freedom of assembly and freedom of expression, and this is something we must always be vigilant about. But that doesn't give young, rabid, left-wingers the right to play the street parliament and make the lives of ordinary Danes miserable, she says.
When asked if it would also apply to farmers who block the roads with tractors, Støjberg emphasizes that it applies to all illegal demonstrations.
- I don't advocate lawlessness during demonstrations. It doesn't matter who does it, she says.
On Wednesday, she will hold a press conference at the City Hall Square in Copenhagen facing H.C. Andersen Boulevard, which is one of the busiest roads and is occasionally blocked, to present the proposal.
It also says that a fine should reflect the real loss to society and should be able to be taken directly from the SU or salary. It is not clear how this will be resolved.
Most strikingly, the party will allow it to be immediately stated in an activist's criminal record if they disrupt public order or pose a security threat - even if there is no conviction.
- If the police remove you because you have blocked a road illegally, or you refuse to remove yourself, then it is simply a fact that you have disrupted public order, she says.
Question: Isn't this a form of confrontation with the separation of powers?
- It is in any case no more new than the government itself having presented a similar proposal, but then not having the courage to implement it, since it was about hooligans, she says, referring to the government's hooligan package.
That way, potential employers will be able to see that you have violated the law.
- I think it is crucial, that employers know what kind of person they are hiring.
Mentions Greta Thunberg as an example
In addition, the party proposes that foreigners who travel to Denmark with the purpose of participating in illegal demonstrations and actions should be banned from entering and residing in Denmark. Inger Støjberg mentions the Swedish activist Greta Thunberg as an example.
The party also proposes giving the police the authority to issue temporary residence bans for people who participate in repeated illegal demonstrations and actions. A violation of the ordinance can cost from 1000 kroner and up, depending on the offense.
In 2024, 21 activists were fined for blocking traffic in 2023 on Strandvejen and at exits 17 and 18 on Motorring 3 in Copenhagen.
The fines were set at between 1250 kroner and 8300 kroner, depending on how many incidents the defendants participated in.
/ritzau/
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