Denmark

Official name of country: Kingdom of Denmark
Capital: Copenhagen
Official language: Danish
Population: 5 511 451 (per 2009)
Size: 43 098 square kilometers
Currency: DKK (Danish kroner)
Form of government: Constitutional Monarchy
Head of government: Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen
Head of state: Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II
Public holidays in 2009: January 1st (New Year’s Day), April 9th (Maundy Thursday), April 10th – 14th (Easter), May 8th (Common Prayer Day), May 21st (Ascension), June 1st (Whit Monday), June 5th (Constitution Day), December 24th – 26th (Christmas).

Government

Denmark is a constitutional monarchy with parliamentary rule, just like Norway and Sweden. It is one of the oldest monarchies in Europe, its rulers dating back more than a thousand years. The Head of State, Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II is a descendant of the first king, Gorm the Old (936-958 AD). All decisions the government makes, need to be signed by the Monarch in council of the state meetings. The Council of State is made up by the ministers in government and the reigning Monarch. The council meetings are held at monthly intervals 10 times a year. The Queen has no political duties, as in Norway and Sweden her only duties are representational and symbolic. The tradition calls for a Monarch without political sympathies, and opinions of political character are not expressed publicly. The Queen calls for new elections on behalf of the Prime Minister, as is common in constitutional monarchies.

The Danish parliament, Folketinget, is a unicameral parliament with representatives elected by direct proportional vote. The parliamentary principle of the executive originating from the parliament’s power was introduced in 1849. Parliamentary elections are held every four years, and the next parliamentary election is in 2011.