SF
Christiansborg
1240 Kbh K
att. International Secretary
Ph: 45 33 37 44 44
Fax: 45 33 32 72 48

Margrete AUKEN, MEP
EP-ASP 08 H 165, rue Wiertz, B-1047 Brussels
Ph: 32 2 284 53 27
Fax: 32 2 284 93 27
margrete.auken@europarl.europa.eu
www.auken.dk
www.greens-efa.org/auken

Socialistisk Folkeparti (the Socialist People's Party), in short called SF, is a Danish Socialist Party, which unites Red and Green perspectives and a democratic outlook. It was founded in 1959 on the basis of undogmatic Marxism, and has constantly fought to defend human rights, both political and social, at home and abroad, and to pave the road to democratic-Socialist changes.

Democratic socialism
SF strives to establish Socialist changes in society through the implementation of structural reforms. To SF, it is not enough just to repair the existing order, although this task must absolutely not be neglected and has a high priority.

We regard it extremely important that all reforms are carried out in a democratic way. SF has, from the very beginning, rejected any restriction of democratic rights, no matter where it took place and who was responsible. To SF, democracy was and is an integral part of Socialism. Without democ-racy there can be no real Socialism.

So, we find that democracy, democratic rights and guarantees to the minorities are absolutely indis-pensable on the road to Socialism. All changes must be based on the free formation of parties, free elections and a free debate. The voters' right to regret and to change their decisions must always be fully respected.

The founding of SF
SF came into being in 1958-59 after several years of struggle in the Danish Communist Party (CP). The rebels who left the CP were opposed the Soviet invasion of Hungary, the Stalinist ideology and all kinds of subordination of the CP under the Soviet authorities. In founding SF and overcoming considerable internal differences, SF members agreed on a line of absolute international independ-ence and a democratic way to Socialism. The organisational structure was free and democratic from the beginning, all ideas of "democratic centralism" being discarded.

Inclusion of Green policies
In the 1970es a number of changes took place in the outlook and work of SF. It expanded its set of ideas by introducing strong Green elements. It became a leading force in the successful struggle against the introduction of nuclear power in Denmark, and from then on, it rejected the concept of quantitative economic growth in favour of the theory of qualitative and environmentally sustainable growth. It established a far more open co-operation with the grassroots movement, among them the new women's movement. Inspired by this movement SF strengthened its fight for equality between the sexes within the Party and in the society, and it was done with great success both internally and in Parliament.

EU membership
SF supports the Danish membership of the EU. The struggle to influence the structure and devel-opment of the EU in a progressive and democratic direction is given a high priority. SF finds that European co-operation must build on the peoples' free will and the sovereignty of nations. There-fore SF is categorically against all federalist tendencies, including the EMU and the military dimen-sion, and our acceptance of the Maastricht Treaty was conditioned on Denmark being held outside EU arrangements in these respects (the "national compromise"). SF is in favour of supranational co-operation in several other areas, in particular environment, labour protection, energy policy, certain social rights and labour market conditions and certain tax rules, such rules being laid down by qualified majorities and strictly as minimum rules. SF supports warmly the admittance of the new Central European democracies, demanding for them to have favourable transition periods. We want more transparency and democracy in the EU. We are in favour of voluntary co-ordination of foreign policy, if possible, but will not accept foreign policy being subjected to majority decisions. We are against providing the EU with a military dimension (cf. above text) and against the concept of United States of Europe.

Present political situation
From 1993 to 2001 Denmark had a centre-left government. SF did not take part in this government, but we supported it as a part of its parliamentary base and gained a lot of concrete results on better social justice and environmental improvement. However the national elections in November 2001 turned out as a disaster for the centre and left forces. Both the Unity List (left wing socialists), the Socialist Peoples Party and the Social Democrats lost many votes, and the centre-left government was replaced by a liberal-conservative government. The then elected government was supported by the extreme nationalist Danish People's Party.
In February of 2005 the turn in Danish politics was cemented, when the liberal-conservative government re-won power. Both the Social Democrats and SF lost mandates (SF went from 12 to 11) and as a consequence the chairmen of both parties resigned. In April 2005 SF's new chairman was elected, and this was the first time in the history of the party that a chairman was elected by referendum.
Thus SF has found itself in radical opposition to the government since 2001, also on the issue of the decision of the Danish government to join the alliance of the US and UK in the 2003 war against Iraq.

Decentralisation and municipal autonomy
The policy of SF is strongly rooted in Danish traditions of decentralisation and strong municipal autonomy. Since the 80es we have been represented in most municipal councils. Since the last mu-nicipal elections in November 2001 SF holds the seats of mayor on behalf of multi-party alliances representing municipal council majorities in the four municipalities of Vejle, Kalundborg, Nakskov and Them. In many other municipalities and regions SF participates in majority coalitions, most often with the Social Democrats and Social Liberals.

International relations
Since the EP elections in June 2004 the MEP of SF, Mrs. Margrete Auken, has joined the Green Group in the EP. SF is also a founding member of the New European Left Forum (established in 1993 as a co-operation between non-authoritarian left wing parties) and the Nordic Green Left Alliance (established in 2004 as a co-operation between the Nordic left wing parties).

National Government: Venstre - Danmarks Liberale Parti (Liberals) and Konservative Folkeparti (Conservatives)

Other parties represented in national Parliament: Socialdemokraterne (Social Democrats), Dansk Folkeparti (Danish People's Party - ultra-right), Radikale Venstre (Social Liberals), Socialistisk Folkeparti (Socialist People's Party) and Enhedslisten (Red-Green Alliance - ultra-left) plus four representatives from Greenland and Faroe Islands.

Next National Elections:

Latest Green Party Election Results:

National elections: 2007
SF: 13 % (23 MPs)

EP elections: 13/06/2004.
SF: 8,1 % (1 MEP)