Danish People’s Party would give exemption to Western immigrants

If the current law requiring foreign spouses to be at least 24 years old to secure residency is not toughened, then the Danish People’s Party will not support the Liberal-Conservative government’s upcoming reform plan, reports Berlingske Tidende newspaper.

The Danish People’s Party (DF) normally provides the minority coalition with its majority. And with the opposition leading in most polls and an election to take place sometime prior to November 2011, the party is able to take advantage of the situation to bolster its get-tough stance on immigration.

As the 24-year rule now stands, if a Danish citizen and a foreigner want to marry, both must be at least 24 to live together in Denmark. DF wants that age requirement raised to 28 years of age and also wants the law change to include an exemption for spouses from Western countries.

Kristian Thulesen Dahl, DF’s party secretary, said the idea behind the party’s proposal was to avoid creating unnecessary difficulties for immigrants ‘who were not a problem’.

Both the Liberals and Conservatives have indicated they would not support such a rule change.