Worries over CO2 tax after Fuglede’s departure

Mads Fuglede’s switch to the Denmark Democrats due to his opposition to a CO2 tax on agriculture is seen as counterproductive by members of his former party, Venstre. Søren Gade, an MP and the Speaker of the Parliament, says to TV 2 that he believes this move makes it more difficult for the party and the government to negotiate an agreeable deal for the food industry. With Fuglede’s departure, the ruling coalition lost its majority, even with support from independent Jon Stephensen. Local mayor Michael Klitgaard from Venstre infers that influence is stronger from within negotiation rooms than from outside. An expert group has proposed several models for structuring the CO2 tax, which is to be discussed initially in a green tripartite setting before political handling. Fuglede’s move has sent shockwaves through Christiansborg, but leaders of the coalition parties, including Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, maintain a calm facade, indicating that previous agreements have typically involved multiple parties.