Local elections are a chance for foreigners to make their voices heard

Next week – 17 November – marks a rare opportunity for foreigners living in Denmark to have a say in the political process.

Not voting would be unfortunate. The comments left by Copenhagen Post readers on our website show time and again that foreigners don't just complain about what happens in this country, they criticise and make (occasionally constructive) suggestions. Often the comments are insightful, and it always comes from a much different perspective to the standard Danish voter.

Even though non-citizen foreigners are granted the right to vote in Denmark, their modest numbers and fractured interests would make it easy to overlook them. Nevertheless, political parties are interested in whether foreigners feel they belong in this country. The myriad of initiatives to attract and retain foreign students, employees and their families show that efforts are being made. It is up to foreigners themselves to say whether they work or not.

As a foreigner here it can be a challenge to keep up with the issues and the standpoints of individual candidates in each council. Nationally there are over 3,000 candidates for local councillor, and the issues vary between each of the 98 local councils.

The Copenhagen Post has sought to introduce readers to each of the parties over the past several months. The series only scratched the surface of the race in Copenhagen, but whether candidates run in the capital, the suburbs or in provinces, the Danish party system emphasises party platform, rather than personality In local politics here, it's often the nuances that make the difference. Local councils are the executive arm of the welfare state. And again this year the focus has been on how to give residents more welfare for their taxes. That's an issue that's hard to argue against. The difference is how to do it.

The parties on the left (Social Democrats, Socialist People's Party and the Red-Green Alliance) would ask the voters to put their faith in Big Mother, arguing that more taxes give more service.

The parties on the right – the Conservatives and the Liberals – argue that less is more when it comes to public services. Less spending is required if people show greater personal responsibility and the money saved can be spent on more services.

For those not at home on either wing, the humanist yet fiscally liberal Social Liberals – known as the party of the 'creative class' – offers a progressive alternative. For the disaffected Social Democrat concerned about the fate of 'the little guy', the Danish People's Party offers refuge.

Non-citizen foreign residents in Denmark have the rare privilege of voting in local and regional elections. They aren't likely to swing any races, but they should remember that their concerns do register on sensors. Foreigners able to vote owe it to legislators to present them with a response.

Kevin McGwin