Foreigners living in Denmark can possibly look forward to the chance of obtaining Danish citizenship in the future without having to give up their current passport.
The New Alliance, the country's newest political party, is preparing to introduce a proposal to parliament that will make dual citizenship legal in Denmark.
Currently, foreigners with residence in Denmark may not obtain Danish citizenship without forfeiting their existing citizenship. Also, Danes living abroad may not obtain the citizenship of another country without giving up their Danish passports, due to the current language of Danish laws.
Naser Khader, the party's leader, has had the proposal on the New Alliance agenda for some time, but it is now taking shape in concrete form.
Mikael Godtfredsen, a political consultant for the New Alliance who is working on the proposal's language, said the bill would apply to all countries and is important if Denmark wants to keep pace both economically and socially with the rest of Europe.
'We're more or less living in a world without borders nowadays,' Godtfredsen told The Copenhagen Post. 'The current law is somewhat obsolete, when we have so many Danes working and living abroad or married to a foreigner. You don't give up your nationality just because you live elsewhere.'
A law change would also be a great benefit to immigrants living in Denmark, said Godtfredsen.
'Foreigners who are residents here should have the same democratic rights as Danes, such as to vote in national elections,' he said. 'They pay taxes, too. I also believe the change would help improve integration.'
Representatives from other parties who have opposed the proposal have often suggested that easing the restrictions of citizenship could open Denmark's door to more terrorists. Godtfredsen said that while he is aware of the concern, the issue is something for the nation's security authorities to deal with.
'Of course it's something we have to cover, but if other European countries have managed to work through it, then I'm confident Denmark can as well.' (RC)
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Readers reply
Great! Hopefully, Danes living abroad do not have to live as outcasts anymore and enjoy the same rights as many other Europeans.
Tage Honoré, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
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It is very refreshing to see that a political party is getting behind a "Dual Citizenship Proposal" for Denmark. I consider my self Danish and will continue to do so despite the fact that I have acquired USA Citizenship. I decided to acquire the USA Citizenship in order to be fully integrated in this society, for as long as I live here, having the right to vote and thus fully participate as a citizen of this country.
With the current rule in Denmark it will be difficult for me to get back to Denmark together with my family, which is a prize I should not have to pay. We live in a very Global World today, many people are taking advantages of opportunities abroad, and should not be punished for it. The current Danish Law that prohibits Dual Citizenship is antiquated and also hinder many Danes living abroad from returning to Denmark and help fill some of the positions that Denmark is constantly searching to fill.
I hope that the New Alliance Party will be successful in its bid to change the current law.
Sincerely
Erik B Christensen
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It is very hard to take the fact of being Danish and having to leave in another country so I feel having DUAL Citizsenship would be a Very good idear for both the US and Danmark
Joann Adso Scott CTC
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When I became a Canadian citizen, I had to give up my Danish citizenship. I was over thirty when I made this decision, and never anticipated the consequences.
There are many times when I have had regretted this, but such is life.
Dual citizenship allows for “passports of convenience”. Canada recognizes dual citizenship, even when naturalized citizens have returned to the country of their birth.
It costs the Canadian government millions to extricate individuals of Lebanese origin who hold Canadian passports whenever there is a flare up in Lebanon.
If I had kept my Danish citizenship I would be able to take advantage of all the changes that have occurred within the EU to improve mobility. As it stands, I cannot even move back to Denmark if I wanted to.
I would have to emigrate back to the country of my birth.
Many Danes have emigrated and taken out citizenship in their adopted country. There are many, including my mother, who would have returned when they were older and they learned that social programs in most countries do not live up to their promise.
But they lived, and died, with their decisions.
To allow dual citizenship now would be a slap in the face to all those Danes who gave up their citizenship and birth rights.
Hilsen fra kanada
Jan Løjmand, Nelson, BC
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It, simply frustrating. The European Union and the workforce's free movement. Having lived and worked in Denmark, payed income tax and voted for parliament. Having lived and worked in Spain, payed income tax and not permitted to vote for parliament. Living in Spain, receiving public pension from both Denmark and Spain, paying income tax to both Denmark and Spain and not being allowed to vote for parliemant - neither here nor there. That is: Having no democratic influence on ones own situation. It's simply frustrating.
Jan Krause Thomsen
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Finally someone is taking up the bat for us udenlands danskere. I have lived in Australia for more than 37 years and have maintained my Danish citizenship. I would like to become and Australian but do not wish to renounce the Danish Queen. It sems so final and I have resisted it. It would be great and I believe also up to date according to the rest of Europe, to have dual citizenship. I look forward to the law being passed. I will then apply for Australian citizenship and start to vote here. I have not voted anywhere for the last 37 years. My democratic rights have been on hold.
Best Wishes
Eva Kaiser
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Yes, please.
This is something we have waited for for years.
Living outside of Denmark (in Australia) we really want to be able to participate in and share the responsibilities by casting our vote at elections in our country of residence, something only possible as a citizen.
AND we would like to retain our ties with Denmark our native country of birth.
Additionally it should be noted that many, many of the countries Denmark normally compares itself with have introduced the possibility of dual citizenship years ago, successfully!
Best regards,
Bitten Pedersen, AUSTRALIA
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As a Dane living in the US I have to say that it is a great initiative. Here in the US I live with my family of US origin and I can pay taxes but not even vote and am also not eligible for other things. I have wanted to become a US citizen to obtain rights on even footing with the rest of the population - but have not done so as I would have to surrender my Danish citizenship, which I don't want to do. This is unlike people originating from many other countries, who can become US citizens and retain their original citizenship.
One solid vote YES to this!
Christian Jensen
Great Dane, LLC
Wilmette, IL 60
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If the other Nordic countries, e.g. Finland, Iceland and Sweden have allowed dual nationality, and Norway is looking into the possibility, why is it that Denmark is so against it?
The argument that the risk of terrorism would be increased is absurd as we have seen from recent cases brought against foreigners, and Danes with foreign background, residing in Denmark.
Regards,
Jill Conway-Fell
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This is the best news I've heard out of Denmark for quite a while.
There are many of us Danes living abroad who have been waiting, hoping, and agitating for a law allowing us to keep our Danish citizenship when and if we opt for a new one in order to have such basic rights as being able to vote in our adopted countries.
Many of us feel - like I do - that we never want to sever our ties to Denmark. Most of us didn't leave our beloved land because we were unhappy there, quite the contrary. We go back to visit as often as we can, we join Danish organizations and social clubs, and often we become more patriotic than the average Dane who stays at home.
Rather than looking upon us as traitors to our country, please bear in mind that we love Denmark and in general make an active contribution to the Danish cause wherever and whenever we can. I for one serve on two boards of mainly Danish organizations, one that help Danish artists get a break, and one established by Jacob A. Riis that act as a social conscience and help underprivileged youngsters - at the same time making Denmark known outside of its borders.
It's extremely frustrating to live in a country where you pay taxes, but don't have any rights. "Taxation without representation" is what we're faced with. And, as matters stand, we're also barred from voting in our homeland. Of course the choice is ours, but since we haven't committed a crime, why should we feel like we're being punished?
I would personally urged the Danish politicians to vote for this proposal and help Denmark join the ranks of other Scandinavian and European countries who have joined the 21st century and accepted the fact that globalization is here to stay.
Else Matthews
Brooklyn
New York
