Halt on Non-Western Immigration Proposed
Copenhagen Post, August 5, 2010
The nationalist Danish People’s Party announced yesterday that it is ready to put a complete stop to all immigration to Denmark from non-Western countries.
Pia Kjærsgaard
On Tuesday the party began its 2010 summer group meeting in Vejle, Jutland, where its top members such as Pia Kjærsgaard, Kristian Thulesen Dahl and Peter Skaarup met to discuss current topics in advance of the autumn session of parliament.
The Danish People’s Party (DF) is seeking to put a complete stop to all immigration from non-Western countries, a continuation of the proposal the party made last month to toughen the 24-year rule for foreign spouses of Danes.
The 24-year rule refers to a clause in the immigration law requiring that a Danish citizen and a foreign born spouse to both be over 24 in order qualify for Danish residence. At the summer group meeting, though, the party stated that it now feels there should instead be put a complete stop to immigration from non-Western countries.
Peter Skaarup, DF’s deputy chairman and immigration spokesman, said that they feel it is necessary to restrict, if not fully put a stop to, the integration to Denmark from the non-Western world, as this integration is a hindrance on the country’s economy, which is already under pressure due to the effects of the financial crisis.
Skaarup added that he feels it was necessary to stop the immigration in order to secure the survival of the welfare state, as it can only continue to exist if immigrants pay taxes.
If immigrants only receive benefits but not pay taxes, the state cannot survive, he argued, adding that figures show it is integration from the non-Western world which causes problems, as these immigrants contribute too little to the welfare state.
