Danish opposition parties table censure motion against minister

Denmark's opposition parties on Thursday submitted a motion of censure against environment minister Eva Kjer Hansen who is being criticized for misleading parliament about the government's agricultural reform package, according to Danish news agency ATAU.

"The parliament can see that the environment and food minister has given the impression that the environmental aspect of the package is better than it actually is. The minister has not given a true image of the consequences of the package," reads part of the motion.

The move came after the government's support party, the Conservative Party, on Tuesday announced it had lost confidence in the minister, following the release of the agriculture package which critics claim could have serious consequences for the environment, ATAU reported.

The earliest the vote can take place is next Wednesday, and Conservative Party leader Soeren Pape Poulsen said on Thursday he "will vote for a censure motion in parliament, if it gets that far."

"A lot can happen before Wednesday. But it does not change our attitude toward the minister. We do not trust the environment and food minister after the processes that have taken place," said Poulsen.

Although the Conservatives support the censure against Hansen, Danish Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen has stated he has "full confidence" in the minister.

A key part of the controversial agricultural bill is expected to be passed on Thursday, and the prime minister will negotiate a "supplementary and trust agreement" on the package.

"The purpose of the supplementary agreement is to meet the parties' wishes on nature, the environment and agriculture, and to have a process that hopefully can reestablish trust with the parties that are behind the government and the government ministers," said Rasmussen.

Hansen on Thursday ruled out the possibility of her immediate resignation, saying she would follow the parliamentary decision if a majority votes for the censure motion.

Rasmussen's Venstre party, or Liberal party, came to power in June 2015 with 34 seats in the 179-seat parliament, backed by the Danish People's Party with 37 seats, the Liberal Alliance with 13 and the Conservatives with six.

If the Conservatives withdraw its support for Venstre, Rasmussen will have to call a new election, which he said was a "bad option."

The Danish parliament has never in practice voted on a motion of censure as either the minister has chosen to resign before the vote, or the prime minister has called an election. Endit