The Exclusion of the People.
Across Europe, democracies are grappling with a deepening dilemma:
Should political extremes be tamed through the sobering weight of responsibility - or held at bay through exclusion?
For decades, countries like France and Germany leaned on cordons sanitaires, Brandmauern, and broad centrist coalitions to shield power from populist forces.
The reasoning was clear and, in many ways, defensible. Yet the strategy carried a hidden cost.
When sizable segments of voters are kept permanently on the outside, they eventually begin to see politics as little more than theatre: parties rail against one another on the campaign trail, only to govern together once the votes are counted. That spectacle erodes trust and quietly undermines legitimacy.
Denmark has long taken a different path. The guiding belief has been that parties tend to moderate when entrusted with real power - when they are forced to set priorities, negotiate, and face the unyielding constraints of reality.
This approach has never been risk-free. Responsibility does not guarantee moderation. But there is an equal danger in permanently shutting large political movements out of influence.
Democracies rest not only on stability, but on the deeper conviction among citizens that they still belong to the political community - even when their views unsettle the establishment.
- the essence of my latest piece in Weekendavisen.
L’Ambassade de France adresse ses chaleureuses félicitations à Sa Majesté le Roi Frederik X et remercie Sa Majesté la Reine Margrethe II pour ses 52 ans de règne qui auront permis le renforcement sans précédent de l’amitié entre la France 🇫🇷 et le Danemark 🇩🇰 . ✨👑
Qques réflexions sur le modèle danois de lutte contre le #HarcelementScolaire, qui semble avoir la cote en France en ce moment. Il est notamment beaucoup fait allusion aux fameux "cours d'empathie". Rappelons d'abord que ce n'est qu'un élément parmi de nombreux autres ...1/
1/ L’annonce de ma non-candidature aux européennes de 2024 suscite quelques commentaires (généralement bienveillants,merci!) & questions. J’en avais modestement réservé la primeur aux fidèles sympathisants bressans, mais mettons définitivement, sereinement, les choses au clair 🧵
An honour to welcome in 🇩🇰 the team of @TheArch100, a 🇪🇺 project presenting from harbour to harbour 100 🇪🇺 solutions for the ecological transition, with its trimaran lead by the 🇨🇵 famous sailor @FrancisJoyon, in the presence of 🇨🇵 MEP @CathChabaud and @EUEnvironment. Fair winds!
Are you 18 or above ? Speak at least English or French ? Available 10 days or more during the #Olympics &/or #Paralympics in 2024 ? Want to be part of a unique experience ?
The #Paris2024#volunteers platform is now open :
https://t.co/DeQonjZ07d
March 14 is D-500 before the opening of the #Paris2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games! On that day @francedk and 128 French embassies and overseas territories will participate in a 24-hour rally around the world. Stay tuned!
#terredejeux2024, @francediplo
To celebrate the 60th anniversary of the #ElyséeTreaty, @AmbParisot was delighted to invite his counterpart @GermAmbDNK and Danish members of the @folketinget to lunch at the embassy today. 🇫🇷
🇩🇪🇩🇰.
What a pleasure to launch today the annual pétanque tournament at @Tivoli for France's national day ! Great to see this French traditional sport right in the center of Copenhagen to celebrate 🇩🇰🇨🇵 friendship ! Vive la France !
🚴♂️In @VejleKommune today where former foreign Minister @JY_LeDrian, Harald Bluetooth and the Ambassador are already thrilled about the 3rd stage that begins in a few hours! Thanks to Mayor Jens Ejner Christensen for his warm welcome! God Tour! 🇩🇰🇨🇵
Wonderful to be in @sonkommune this weekend, arguably the greenest city of the #TDF2022. Great cycling spirit at the bike challenge and at the wood sculpture challenge, among others! Many thanks to mayor Erik Lauritzen and his team and congratulations to all participants!
Very happy to be back at Folkemødet, with an interesting discussion today with @ToreKeller on French politics, 🇩🇰🇨🇵 bilateral relations and Europe. Thank you for the invitation!
#Elections2022 🇫🇷Dimanche 10 avril :1er tour de l'élection présidentielle !
Deux bureaux de vote seront ouverts de 8h à 19h au @LyceeFrancaisPH (Frederiksberg Allé 22A, 1820 Frederiksberg), pour les Français inscrits sur la liste électorale de #Copenhague. @FR_Consulaire
Thank you @JeppeKofod for a very useful discussion on Ukraine today during our #PFUE2022 lunch together with our colleagues from 🇺🇦, 🇬🇧 and 🇺🇸. Important to face this war in a coordinated manner with our closest allies while showing our support to the people of #Ukraine