2022 in Denmark explained
Events in the year 2022 in Denmark.
The year was dominated by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Denmark took in Ukrainian refugees fleeing the invasion of their country. Danish government sent foreign aid to Ukraine, and condemned and sanctioned Russia for waging the war.
As the rest of Europe and in the world, Denmark continued to be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and Deltacron hybrid variant, but much less so than in January 2020 and February 2022. The 2021–2023 inflation surge led to increased prices on many goods. 2022 Danish general election took place on 1 November.
Incumbents
Events
January
February
March
April
May
- 4 May
- Narendra Modi, the prime minister of India, who is visiting Denmark, takes part in a summit in Copenhagen with the prime ministers of the five Nordic countries, including Mette Frederiksen of Denmark. At the end of the summit, the prime ministers issue a joint statement, where they promise increased cooperation and lay out their shared views on international relations, climate change, digitalization, and other matters.[5] [6]
- Russo-Ukrainian War: On the 77th anniversary of the liberation of Denmark at the end of World War 2, president Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine once again speaks to Denmark by video link. This time addressing the Danish people directly, the president draws parallels between World War 2 and the war in Ukraine. He also encourages Danes to light tealights in their windows (as is tradition in the evening on 4 May), this time also in solidarity with Ukraine.[7]
- 10–14 May – Eurovision Song Contest: The Danish song "The Show" by Reddi is eliminated in the first semifinal of the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 in Turin. In the final, Ukraine gets 12 points from the Danish televote, and Greece gets 12 points from the Danish jury.
- 18 May – A summit, nicknamed the North Sea Summit, takes place in Esbjerg. Prime minister Mette Frederiksen and energy minister Dan Jørgensen of Denmark play hosts to the heads of government and energy ministers of Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, and the European Commission. The countries agree on the Esbjerg Declaration, in which they promise to increase use of offshore wind power and build more energy islands.[8] [9]
- 23 May – The first case of monkeypox is detected, bringing the 2022 monkeypox outbreak to Denmark.
- 28 May – Odense Letbane opens in the city of Odense.
June
- 1 June – 2022 Danish European Union opt-out referendum: In response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Denmark votes 66.9% in favor of abolishing its EU opt-out on defense matters.
- 14 June – Canada and Denmark end their competing claims for Hans Island by dividing the island roughly in half, ending what was referred to as the Whisky War.[10]
- 17 June – A Russian warship briefly enters Danish waters twice, north of the island Bornholm. Folkemødet (da), an annual political festival on Bornholm, was taking place at the time, and many prominent politicians were in attendance there. Prime minister Mette Frederiksen and foreign minister Jeppe Kofod were both on the island, with the latter calling the breach a "completely unacceptable Russian provocation".[11]
- 23 June – Former immigration minister Inger Støjberg founds a new political party, the Denmark Democrats. Less than 24 hours later, it already has 40,000 voter declarations (da), twice the number needed to be eligible for running in the next election.[12]
- 25 June – The Roskilde Festival returns, after being cancelled for the past two years due to the pandemic. This is the 50th anniversary of the festival.[13]
- 30 June – Mink case: The Mink Commission hands in its report to the Inquiry Committee of the Folketing. The Commission expresses severe criticism of prime minister Mette Frederiksen, saying that she "grossly misled" the public, but that she didn't knowingly order the culling of the mink without legal authority to do so.[14]
July
August
- 8 August – Defense minister Morten Bødskov, along with his colleagues from Norway and Sweden, announce an agreement to increase military cooperation. Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, agree that they may use each other's military infrastructure and airspace, and Denmark will station a military attaché in Stockholm. The agreement was reached to counter Russian aggression in the Baltic Sea region, as Russia has violated the territory of both Denmark and Sweden on several occasions in recent years. Bødskov warns that the region "will be marked by higher levels of tension than we have been used to".[18]
- 9 August – Authorities in Greenland announce that two civilian employees at Thule Air Base have tested positive for monkeypox.[19]
- 15 August – Conservative People's Party leader Søren Pape Poulsen presents himself as a candidate for prime minister in the next election.
September
- 21 September – At the second time, the Royal Household announced that Queen Margrethe II tested positive for COVID-19. She had attended the funeral of Elizabeth II with her son Crown Prince Frederik on the 19th. The queen was previously infected in February.[20]
- 26–29 September – A series of gas leaks happen at the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines in the Baltic Sea, off the coast of Bornholm. Prime minister Mette Frederiksen says that explosions were recorded at both pipelines prior to the leaks, and that Danish authorities suspect sabotage, but wouldn't speculate on who were responsible.[21] [22] The Copenhagen Police (da) opens an investigation of the gas leaks, in collaboration with the National Police, the Danish Security and Intelligence Service (PET), and others.[23] The Danish Defence Command sends the frigate Absalon and several other vessels to the area.[24]
- 28 September – Queen Margrethe II announces changes to the titles of the descendants of her younger son prince Joachim. Effective from 1 January 2023, Joachim's children will no longer be allowed to call themselves prince or princess, but they remain in the line of succession. They will retain the title count or countess of Monpezat, given to both the queen's sons and all of their patrilineal descendants in 2008. Queen Margrethe justified the change for her grandchildren, who range in age from 10 to 23, as allowing them to "shape their own lives to a much greater extent without being limited by [royal duties]".[25]
- 29 September
- The day after queen Margrethe announced that the children of her son prince Joachim would lose their titles of prince or princess from the new year, Joachim speaks to tabloids B.T. and Ekstra Bladet. He says that he and his immediate family are dismayed, and that his children have had their identity taken from them. According to the prince, the queen shared a plan with him on 5 May under which the children would have lost their titles only when each of them turned 25. Under such a plan, youngest child Athena, age 10, would not have lost her title until 2037.[26] [27]
- Russo-Ukrainian War: Prime minister Mette Frederiksen condemns the annexation referendums in four Ukrainian regions orchestrated by president Vladimir Putin of Russia, saying that the referendums "have nothing to do with the will of the people and have no legal effect".[28]
October
- 3 October – A report on national security and defence policy up to 2035, written in collaboration between the Danish Defence, the Ministry of Defence, and other government bodies, warns about a "bleaker future". It says that a new Iron Curtain has emerged, and that the global balance of power is shifting rapidly, with Russia an increasing threat.[29]
- 4 October – The opening of the Folketing (da) takes place, marking the beginning of a new legislative session. Prime minister Mette Frederiksen speaks of the difficulties Denmark face in connection with the energy crisis, the war in Ukraine, and economic hardship. However, she opens her speech with thanks to veteran lawmakers Marianne Jelved (RV), Henrik Dam Kristensen (S), and Bertel Haarder (V), sharing anecdotes about their lives and praising their record of service. The three are all retiring at the next election, and have over 100 years of combined service in the Folketing.[30] [31]
- 5 October
- 10 October – 2022 Danish general election: At the request of the prime minister of the Faroe Islands Bárður á Steig Nielsen, the Folketing approves a change to the election date in the Faroe Islands by a wide margin. The election is moved to 31 October, a day earlier than in Denmark proper and Greenland, as the previously chosen election day is a Faroese day of mourning for those who have died at sea.[35] [36]
- 31 October – 2022 Danish general election: The Faroe Islands vote. The Union Party and the Faroese Social Democrats, who previously held a seat each, retain their seats. For the Union Party, Edmund Joensen is replaced by his granddaughter Anna Falkenberg, who becomes only the second Faroese woman ever elected to the Folketing. For the Social Democrats, Sjúrður Skaale is reelected.[37]
November
- 1 November – The 2022 Danish general election takes place (excluding the Faroe Islands). The left-wing red bloc wins a narrow majority, taking 90 seats, while the right-wing blue bloc wins 73 seats, and the centrist Moderates win 16 seats. Two new parties, the Moderates and the right-wing populist Denmark Democrats, enter the Folketing, increasing the number of parliamentary parties to 12.[38]
- The Social Democrats get 50 seats, their best result since 2001 and more than twice the size of the next biggest party. The Socialist People's Party (SF) and The Alternative make minor gains, getting 15 and 6 seats respectively. The Social Liberals lose over half their seats, going from 16 to 7. The Red-Green Alliance also loses some support, getting 9 seats.
- Venstre gets 23 seats, their worst result since 1988. The aforementioned Moderates and the Denmark Democrats, who both broke away from Venstre, get 16 and 14 seats respectively, some of the best showings ever for new parties. The Liberal Alliance (LA) gets 14 seats, their best result ever. The Danish People's Party (DF) goes from 16 to 5 seats, their worst result ever. The Conservatives drop to 10 seats, while the New Right rise to 6 seats.
- In Greenland, Aki-Matilda Høegh-Dam of Siumut and Aaja Chemnitz Larsen of Inuit Ataqatigiit (IA) are both reelected. Their wins prove decisive, as both support the red bloc, giving prime minister Mette Frederiksen the option to form a left-wing government in addition to a broad government across the middle of the aisle.[39]
- 2 November
- A day after the 2022 Danish general election, Social Liberal leader Sofie Carsten Nielsen announces she is stepping down as party leader.[40]
- As is tradition after an election, the party leaders take part in the "queen's round" (Danish: dronningerunde) where they, one at a time, have an audience with the queen. Prime minister Mette Frederiksen hands in her resignation to the queen (with the previous government continuing as a caretaker government), and is charged with forming a new government. She has previously said that she wants to form a broad government across the middle of the Folketing, but due to the narrow majority for the red bloc she can also choose a purely red government.[41]
- 16 November – Søren Gade (V) is elected speaker of the Folketing, and four deputy speakers are elected. He replaces Henrik Dam Kristensen (S), who retired from the Folketing at the election two weeks before. As the largest parties besides the speaker's party, the Social Democrats, Moderates, and Socialist People's Party get to pick first deputy speaker Leif Lahn Jensen, second deputy speaker Jeppe Søe, and third deputy speaker Karsten Hønge respectively. With the Denmark Democrats and Liberal Alliance tied for next-largest party, Gade has to draw lots for which of them gets to select the fourth deputy speaker, with Karina Adsbøl of the Denmark Democrats winning.[42] [43] Gade had been temporarily elected speaker the day before.[44]
- 21 November – 2022 FIFA World Cup: In a joint statement with six other associations, the Danish Football Association (DBU) announces that players will not wear OneLove rainbow armbands at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. The decision comes after FIFA announces that the captains of any team wearing the band will receive a yellow card. Several qualifying teams had planned to wear the OneLove armband, which is part of an anti-discrimination campaign, in protest against the poor state of LGBT rights in Qatar.[45]
- 22 November – 2022 FIFA World Cup: A day after the OneLove armband decision, Helle Thorning-Schmidt attends the Denmark vs Tunisia match wearing a blue dress with rainbows on the sleeves. Thorning-Schmidt, who was prime minister of Denmark from 2011 to 2015, is in Qatar in her capacity as head of the DBU's Governance and Development Committee (Danish: Governance- og Udviklingskomite). Many fans and journalists were refused entry to the stadium for wearing rainbow-colored clothing.[46]
December
- 13 December – After 41 days of negotiations to form a government, the longest in Danish history,[47] acting prime minister Mette Frederiksen informs queen Margrethe II that she has reached an agreement to form a new government. It consists of Frederiksen's own Social Democrats, as well as Venstre and the Moderates. This constellation is unusual, as Danish politics is divided into a Social Democrats-led red bloc and a Venstre-led blue bloc, with either bloc typically having a majority and forming a government. A government including both major parties has been tried only once before in the post-war era, after the 1979 election. Another unusual feature is that it is a majority government, unlike most Danish governments who have relied on supporting parties to garner a majority. Hopeful of working with other parties despite having a majority already, Frederiksen promises to "search for ... broader majorities than the one we are presenting".[48] [49]
- 14 December – A day after they announced the formation of a new government, prime minister Mette Frederiksen (S) and fellow party leaders Jakob Ellemann-Jensen (V) and Lars Løkke Rasmussen (M) present the coalition agreement laying out their policies. Among other things, the government plans to abolish Great Prayer Day (Danish: Store Bededag) as a holiday to increase productivity, increase military spending, merge the "Arne pension" (da) with other early pension schemes, abolish the municipal job centers (part of wider reforms to public employment services), reduce the high-earners income tax (Danish: topskat), and commit to carbon neutrality by 2045.[50] [51] [52] [53]
- 15 December – Prime minister Mette Frederiksen presents her new government at Amalienborg. There are 23 ministers, of which 11 are from the Social Democrats, seven are from Venstre, and five are from the Moderates. For the Social Democrats, finance minister Nicolai Wammen and tax minister Jeppe Bruus retain their posts, while Peter Hummelgaard becomes justice minister. Venstre leader Jakob Ellemann-Jensen becomes deputy prime minister and defense minister, while his party also secures the posts of economy minister (Troels Lund Poulsen), and interior minister and health minister (both Sophie Løhde). Moderates leader and former prime minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen becomes foreign minister.[54] [55]
Culture
Film
Sports
Badminton
Canoe and Kayak
Cycling
Equestrian sports
Football
Golf
Handball
Sailing
Tennis
Other
Deaths
JanuaryMarch
AprilJune
JulySeptember
OctoberDecember
Notes and References
- https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/indland/danmark-sender-vaaben-til-ukraine-vi-ser-en-enestaaende-heroisk-indsats-fra Danmark sender våben til Ukraine: 'Vi ser en enestående heroisk indsats fra ukrainerne, og vi ønsker at hjælpe'
- https://www.ft.dk/da/aktuelt/nyheder/2022/03/ukrainsk-praesident-taler-til-folketinget Den ukrainske præsident taler til Folketinget
- https://borsen.dk/nyheder/politik/kofod-danmark-stotter-efterforskning-af-krigsforbrydelse Udenrigsministeren: Danmark støtter efterforskning af krigsforbrydelse i Butja
- https://via.ritzau.dk/pressemeddelelse/udenrigsminister-jeppe-kofod-samler-ministerkolleger-om-retsforfolgning-i-ukraine?publisherId=2012662&releaseId=13659911 Udenrigsminister Jeppe Kofod samler ministerkolleger om retsforfølgning i Ukraine
- https://indien.um.dk/en/news/the-official-visit-by-indian-pm-narendra-modi-in-denmark The Official Visit by Indian PM Narendra Modi in Denmark
- https://www.stm.dk/statsministeriet/publikationer/faelleserklaering-i-forbindelse-med-indisk-nordisk-topmoede-i-danmark/ Fælleserklæring i forbindelse med indisk-nordisk topmøde i Danmark
- https://nyheder.tv2.dk/samfund/2022-05-04-zelenskyj-tak-til-danmark-aere-til-ukraine Zelenskyj: - Tak til Danmark. Ære til Ukraine
- https://www.bechbruun.com/en/news/2022/the-esbjerg-declaration-the-north-sea-to-be-europes-green-power-house The Esbjerg Declaration: The North Sea to be Europe's green power house
- https://stateofgreen.com/en/news/harness-north-sea-potential/ EU leaders convene in Esbjerg to harness the North Sea's green energy potential
- https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-61801682 Whisky Wars: Denmark and Canada strike deal to end 50-year row over Arctic island
- https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jun/17/unacceptable-russian-warship-accused-of-violating-danish-waters ‘Unacceptable’: Russian warship accused of violating Danish waters
- https://nyheder.tv2.dk/politik/2022-06-24-inger-stoejberg-har-faaet-mere-end-50000-vaelgererklaeringer Inger Støjberg har fået mere end 50.000 vælgererklæringer
- https://www.tv2lorry.dk/lorryland/syv-ting-du-kan-glaede-dig-til-i-2022 Syv ting, du kan glæde dig til i 2022: Roskilde Festivals 50 års jubilæum
- https://www.thelocal.dk/20220630/danish-pm-grossly-misled-during-2020-mink-announcement/ Danish PM ‘grossly misled’ during 2020 mink announcement
- Web site: Several killed in Copenhagen shopping mall shooting . 2022-07-03 . BBC News . 3 July 2022.
- Web site: 2022-07-03 . Several killed in shooting at Copenhagen shopping centre . 2022-07-03 . The Guardian . en . 3 July 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220703190902/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jul/03/several-wounded-in-shooting-at-copenhagen-shopping-centre-say-police . live .
- News: 2022-07-05 . Danish PM avoids impeachment over illegal mink cull . en . Reuters . 2022-07-07.
- https://avisendanmark.dk/artikel/nordiske-forsvarsministre-vi-bliver-st%C3%A6rkere-sammen Nordiske lande aftaler at kunne bruge hinandens luftrum
- https://jyllands-posten.dk/indland/ECE14294742/abekopper-er-naaet-til-groenland/ Abekopper er nået til Grønland
- Web site: Copenhagen . Agencies in . 2022-09-21 . Denmark's Queen Margrethe II tests positive for Covid after Queen Elizabeth's funeral . 2022-09-21 . the Guardian . en.
- News: 27 September 2022 . Mette Frederiksen: Myndigheder vurderer, at lækager var bevidst sabotage . da . . 27 September 2022 . 27 September 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220927183342/https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/politik/mette-frederiksen-myndigheder-vurderer-laekager-var-bevidst-sabotage . live .
- https://www.dw.com/en/baltic-sea-gas-leaks-who-or-what-is-behind-them/a-63277016 Baltic Sea gas leaks: Who or what is behind them?
- https://politi.dk/koebenhavns-politi/nyhedsliste/investigation-of-the-gas-leaks-in-the-baltic-sea/2022/09/30 Investigation of the gas leaks in the Baltic Sea
- https://www.forsvaret.dk/en/news/2022/gas-leak-in-the-baltic-sea/ Gas leak in the Baltic Sea
- https://www.kongehuset.dk/presse/pressemeddelelse-%C3%A6ndringer-i-titler-og-tiltaleformer-i-den-kongelige-familie Pressemeddelelse: Ændringer i titler og tiltaleformer i den kongelige familie
- https://www.kristeligt-dagblad.dk/danmark/prins-joachim-om-titler-mine-boern-bliver-gjort-fortraed Prins Joachim om titler: Mine børn bliver gjort fortræd
- https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/indland/prins-joachims-boern-faar-frataget-deres-titler-ualmindeligt-haardt-og-unoedvendigt Prins Joachims børn får frataget deres titler: Usædvanligt barskt og unødvendigt, siger kommentator
- https://www.berlingske.dk/politik/mette-frederiksen-fordoemmer-folkeafstemninger-i-ukraine Mette Frederiksen fordømmer folkeafstemninger i Ukraine
- https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/indland/ny-dyster-fremtidsanalyse-det-minder-om-opspillet-til-1-verdenskrig Ny dyster fremtidsanalyse: 'Det minder om opspillet til Første Verdenskrig'
- https://www.altinget.dk/artikel/mette-frederiksen-hyldede-haarder-jelved-og-dam-i-aabningstalen-valget-venter-hun-med Åbningstale: Mette Frederiksen hyldede Haarder, Jelved og Dam i stedet for at udskrive valg
- https://nyheder.tv2.dk/politik/2022-10-04-marianne-jelved-dybt-beroert-efter-mette-frederiksens-aabningstale Marianne Jelved dybt berørt efter Mette Frederiksens åbningstale
- Web site: 2022-10-05 . Danish general election called after PM faces mink cull ultimatum . 2022-10-05 . the Guardian . en.
- https://www.reuters.com/world/bertozzi-meldal-sharpless-win-2022-nobel-prize-chemistry-2022-10-05/ Nobel prize goes to pioneers of Lego-like "click chemistry"
- Web site: The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2022 . 5 October 2022 . Nobelprize.org.
- https://nyheder.tv2.dk/politik/2022-10-08-faeringerne-vil-stemme-31-oktober Færingerne vil stemme 31. oktober
- https://im.dk/nyheder/nyhedsarkiv/2022/okt/paa-faeroeerne-afholdes-folketingsvalget-31-oktober- På Færøerne afholdes folketingsvalget 31. oktober
- https://nyheder.tv2.dk/politik/2022-10-31-valget-paa-faeroeerne-er-afgjort-et-mandat-til-hver-blok Valget på Færøerne er afgjort - et mandat til hver blok
- https://www.ft.dk/da/aktuelt/nyheder/2022/11/valgresultat-2022 Folketingsvalg 2022: Sådan blev resultatet
- https://knr.gl/da/nyheder/alle-stemmer-er-talt-op-%E2%80%93-og-gr%C3%B8nland-kan-ende-med-spille-en-afg%C3%B8rende-rolle%C2%A0 Alle stemmer er talt op – og Grønland kan ende med at spille en afgørende rolle
- https://www.berlingske.dk/politik/sofie-carsten-nielsen-gaar-af-som-leder-for-de-radikale Sofie Carsten Nielsen går af som leder for De Radikale
- https://nyheder.tv2.dk/politik/2022-11-02-mette-frederiksen-gaar-til-dronningen-maalet-er-en-bred-regering Mette Frederiksen går til dronningen: Målet er en bred regering
- https://www.berlingske.dk/politik/folketinget-vaelger-venstres-soeren-gade-som-formand Folketinget vælger Venstres Søren Gade som formand
- https://nyheder.tv2.dk/politik/2022-11-16-soren-gade-valgt-som-ny-formand-for-folketinget Søren Gade valgt som ny formand for Folketinget
- https://www.altinget.dk/artikel/folketinget-vaelger-officielt-ny-formand-foerste-venstremand-i-11-aar Folketinget vælger officielt ny formand: Første venstremand i 11 år
- https://jyllands-posten.dk/sport/fodbold/ECE14610189/danmark-dropper-one-loveanfoererbind-ved-vm/ Danmark dropper One Love-anførerbind ved VM
- https://sport.tv2.dk/fodbold/2022-11-22-helle-thorning-ankom-til-vm-kamp-ifoert-regnbuefarver Helle Thorning ankom til VM-kamp iført regnbuefarver
- https://fyens.dk/artikel/r%C3%B8d-blok-efterladt-p%C3%A5-perronen-mette-f-bag-voldsom-h%C3%B8jredrejning Rød blok efterladt på perronen: Mette F. bag voldsom højredrejning
- https://policywatch.dk/nyheder/christiansborg/article14719682.ece Mette Frederiksen er klar med ny regering
- https://nordjyske.dk/nyheder/politik/historisk-ny-svm-regering-praesenteres-torsdag/4050426 Historisk: Socialdemokratiet danner regering med Venstre og Moderaterne
- https://www.tv2lorry.dk/lorryland/saadan-gik-det-til-da-den-nye-regering-praesenterede-deres-grundlag Sådan gik det til, da den nye regering præsenterede deres grundlag
- https://nyheder.tv2.dk/politik/2022-12-14-her-er-hovedpunkterne-i-regeringsgrundlaget Her er hovedpunkterne i regeringsgrundlaget
- https://www.ft.com/content/a6667632-8a69-41ba-af85-d945a633ce7d Danish government to cut bank holiday to boost defence spending
- https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/dec/16/denmark-coalition-government-bank-holiday-defence-spending Danish government plans to scrap bank holiday to increase defence spending
- https://www.altinget.dk/artikel/her-er-den-nye-regering Her er den nye regering: Ellemann skal være forsvarsminister – Løkke er udenrigsminister
- https://www.kristeligt-dagblad.dk/danmark/danmark-har-faaet-ny-regering-faa-det-fulde-overblik-over-de-23-nye-ministre Danmark har fået ny regering: Få det fulde overblik over de 23 nye ministre
- Web site: Højgaard battles to stunning victory in Ras Al Khaimah . 6 February 2022 . European Tour . 6 February 2022.
- https://www.dr.dk/sporten/tennis/udlandet-maaber-over-holger-runes-triumf-han-kunne-have-set-finalen-fra-sin-sofa Udlandet måber over Holger Runes triumf: 'Slap af'
- https://edition.cnn.com/2022/11/06/tennis/holger-rune-paris-masters-tennis-spt-intl/index.html Teenager Holger Rune shocks Novak Djokovic to claim Paris Masters title