H.E. Mr. Niels Pultz:

The Chairman and Deputy Crowe asked about the desire for changing the Danish constitution. There is no appetite for it because this has nothing to do with the right of the citizen to vote. Many would argue that it is a fundamental right to be able to vote somewhere. The problem is that amendment of the Danish constitution is a very cumbersome and difficult process. I will give a hint of how difficult it is. First, the Danish Parliament must pass a constitutional amendment. Second, following the next election, which could be called for that reason, there would be another vote in the parliament on exactly the same Bill. Third, a referendum must be held not later than six months after the second passing of the Bill in the Danish Parliament. An additional hindrance to be surmounted is that at least 40% of the electorate entitled to vote should vote in favour of the proposal. As such, if turnout is low there is a risk that the referendum will not be passed. This is one of the reasons there is no appetite to change the Danish constitution. It was last changed in 1953. While much of the constitution should be amended, the founding fathers of it ensured that this could not be done lightly. As I said, it is difficult to change it and there is no political appetite to do so. The matter has been discussed a couple of times but thus far the majority does not favour changing it. This is a hard rock which is impossible for us to surmount.