As fun as… going to a political meeting in Denmark

In Denmark, meetings with voters before elections are held like festivals, especially for municipal elections, because the candidates are usually local people.

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People discuss developing summer tourism in the province, as Odsherred's strength is its beaches. Two women standing outside are TV reporters - Photo: QUE VIEN

When we hear about political meetings, meetings between elected representatives and voters and people, we often think of meetings in halls with a solemn atmosphere, with suggested or pre-selected questions...

This year, Folkemoedet (Meeting with the People) was held on a cloudy September weekend, when party members and candidates for the local council met with voters and residents in the province of Odsherred, about 100km from the capital Copenhagen.

By the people and for the people

Although luckily there was no rain, the wind was blowing cold outside, the temperature dropped to about 10-12oC. The sun didn’t shine until midday (European summer this year is not warm and there is a lot of rain) but it still attracted thousands of people of all ages and backgrounds to attend.

Because it was the weekend, many people brought children, many young couples brought their babies in strollers, some brought their dogs, and attended the activities that took place from 10am to 5pm because the meeting place had enough facilities, a food counter, and a children's area with nannies to look after and take care of the children.

Folkemoedet is held on a large lawn in the Rytmiske High School campus in the town of Vig. Since it is not located in the city center, the organizers have arranged for buses to stop at the train station every 30 minutes for those who do not have a car, a bike or do not want to walk.

In addition to the central stage set up outdoors, the organizers set up many tents for activities with different themes for participants to choose from. The detailed program was disseminated to the people in the province through the local press a week before.

Voters came to listen to candidates present their policies in the tent - Photo: TTO

There were tents for representatives of political parties to talk about their current policies and plans for the future, there were places for voters to talk with candidates, there were tents for provincial organizations to hold thematic discussions... Attendees could discuss environmental issues, immigration and employment, how to develop tourism in the province (Odsherred has the best beaches in Denmark and revenue from tourism services and restaurants accounts for a significant proportion of the province's income).

Attendees had the opportunity to directly discuss with members of the provincial People's Council about "hot" topics such as new tax regulations, new tax rates expected to be levied on cars, new fisheries policies, and job creation for immigrants...

Of course, they do not require all questions to be answered immediately, but it is good to have the opportunity to discuss their concerns and issues. For those involved in political activities, at least they know what the people want and expect from the government at all levels.

Politics is fun

In addition to discussions and dialogues on various topics, the conference also included cultural and artistic activities, suitable for all ages. The most unique was the installation art performance with the theme Mennesketaarnet "Human Tower" by ceramic artist Martin Nybo. With the technical guidance of Nybo and his colleagues, 100 participants molded small clay figurines, representing men and women according to their imagination and preferences, then Nybo would attach them to a large ceramic vase.

These statues are very diverse, besides statues of young men and women, country mothers, cowboys, clowns, there are also mermaids, elephant-headed human statues like the Hindu god Ganesha, decapitated demon statues... Together they form a strangely creative and harmonious whole, representing a diverse, free and democratic society.

Coming to listen to political discussions, there are also artistic creative activities - Photo: TTO

The Folkemoedet, organized for the first time by Odsherred province to promote the people's council elections to be held in November, attracted the active participation of many young people.

Talking politics doesn't have to be dogmatic or serious, does it?

This form of political festival was first held in Denmark in mid-June 2011, on the island of Bornholm, with the aim of allowing Government members to interact with the people in an open atmosphere.

As Bertel Haarder, former Minister of Culture and Religious Affairs, one of Denmark's longest-serving ministers, put it, this is "a Roskilde with less beer and more dialogue." Roskilde is the largest music festival in Northern Europe and is held annually in Denmark during the summer.

From the unexpected success of the first festival, in the following years this model was replicated in other provinces and cities, depending on local conditions and situations.

According to TTO