After a long period of negotiations, it now seems that a compromise on the introduction of female conscription is finally on the way in Denmark. The defense agreement, which has been the subject of intense debate and disagreement among political parties, is now being divided into two separate agreements. Lise Bech, defense spokesperson for the Denmark Democrats, expresses cautious optimism: “We are pleased that we are sticking to the overall agreement, and that a separate agreement on female conscription is also being reached.” This division comes after significant disagreements, especially regarding the issue of female conscription, where both the Liberal Alliance and the Denmark Democrats have been strong opponents. They have threatened to veto the proposal in the original agreement. On the other hand, Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen (V) has been clear that he would terminate the entire agreement if female conscription was not included. Danish People’s Party, represented by defense spokesperson Alex Ahrendtsen, has also been pushing for a quick resolution: “It is urgent, and we need to get the Defense in place very quickly,” he says.
The negotiations, which took place on Tuesday evening at the Ministry of Defense, now seem to be bearing fruit, and an agreement is expected to be approved by all parties. “The agreement is as it should be,” adds Ahrendtsen. With this new structure in the defense agreement, the hope is to meet both the political desires and the practical needs of the Defense while ensuring gender equality by offering conscription for both men and women.