In Denmark, we like to think of ourselves as being in the vanguard of freedom of expression. We were the first country in the world to legalise pornography. We insisted on the right to publish caricatures of the prophet Muhammad. Rather than marginalise so-called rightwing populists in parliament, we invited them in to political cooperation. We pride ourselves on being unafraid of controversy and we’re good at making authorities who try to tell us what to do – and especially what not to do – look ridiculous.
Danes also like to think of our country as a role model for democracy. As such, the national elections for children aged 13 to 16 are a cherished tradition, considered a part of civic education and a preparation for democratic participation. All schools are invited to take part in the exercise, which is held every other year. Students debate 20 issues for three weeks before casting votes for the parties that are also eligible to stand in real general elections.
Over the past few weeks, however, the national school elections have been dragged into controversy after the decision to ban one theme from the list of issues for the 2026 vote: the question of Palestine.
Should Denmark recognise Palestine as a sovereign state? This specific question is arguably a defining issue of our time and one that mobilises political engagement among young voters. Excluding it is a remarkable act, which has been attacked from the left and right of the political spectrum. This is the opposite of properly preparing young people for Danish democracy, critics say, and goes against what we as a nation stand for.
Moreover, it risked giving pupils a bad experience of democracy; this issue was too complex for them to be able to relate
Sorry voter, this topic is too complicated for a democratic vote on it. We’ll decide what’s best for you.
Coming soon to a “Democracy” near you.
this issue was too complex for them to be able to relate
Wouldn’t want schools getting involved there at all…
No, you see this conflict is like an eldritch God, too non Euclidean too even discuss
I abhor when politicians treat voters like idiots. We’re not fucking stupid and many of us can see right through their subterfuge.
They can go on thinking that way tho 'and when we come for their heads they won’t understand why.
this issue was too complex for them to be able to relate
Yeah, might as well stop talking about Colonialism, Slavery, Nazism and all the other topics in history, that are “too complex to relate” by the idea of interested groups.
Also the notion behind it is even more infuriating. Because saying the issue would be “too complex” means there is some higher justification to crimes against humanity and war crimes, killing tens of thousands of people and making the home of millions of people unlivable while massacring them as they scramble for the little food you give them. “Too complex” means that any crime and any injustice can be justified and when you see injustice you should not challenge it, but rather trust blindly that your leaders can justify what they do.
It’s not people who can’t handle debating Gaza. It’s our corporate controlled politicians who are more beholden to money than in representing their own country.
Is this because Denmark’s AIPAC analogue can’t effectively compromise students?
I dont think that exclusive to denmark, its probably true for the whole world
*The West. The map of countries that recognize Palestine is pretty much a map of the world minus the Cold War’s Western Bloc.
the national school elections have been dragged into controversy after the decision to ban one theme from the list of issues for the 2026 vote: the question of Palestine.
This right there is everything that’s wrong with Western democracy today.
I wonder if it’s they don’t want the results publicized.
