Against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine, the Scandinavian kingdom wants to increase its defense budget to 2% of GDP in 2030 to comply with NATO criteria.
“There is war in Europe, and we must strengthen our defences… And that will require everyone to contribute a little moresaid Mette Frederiksen, Prime Minister of Denmark. The Scandinavian kingdom wants to reach, in 2030 instead of 2033, the objective of 2% of the GDP devoted to Defense, a criterion of NATO, against 1.4% today. To do this, one of the 11 Danish public holidays will be abolished. This is the Store Bededag (day of prayer), introduced in 1656 and celebrated on the fourth Friday after Easter.
This is one of the first measures of the new ruling coalition, which combines centre-left and centre-right, reports the BBC . Reducing CO2 emissions and greater investment in military spending are high on the new government’s agenda.
The president of the Lutheran Clergy Association, Pernille Vigso Bagge, said to herself “saddenedby this news, adding that its deletion left pastors and congregants waiting to be confirmed “in a logistical nightmare“. The Store Bededag is indeed traditionally a big day of confirmations in Denmark.
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