Danish lawmakers endorse increase deemed as unfair for citizenship application costs
Rewritten Article:
6K Kr. for Danish Citizenship: Hefty Price HikeBy Richard Orange
Denmark's parliament has voted to significantly escalate the cost of acquiring citizenship, with the new fee set at 6,000 kroner, a steep fivefold increase from just a decade ago. The new regulation kicks in on May 1st.
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The bill sailed through with a resounding 91 votes in favor, 13 against, and 4 abstentions, boosted by the backing of seven out of 11 parliamentary parties.
The three ruling parties, alongside the Denmark Democrats, the Social Left Party, the Liberal Alliance, and the Conservative party, were all in favor of the price hike.
However, the far-right Danish People's Party opposed the bill, protesting the fact that some younger applicants would still only need to fork over 4,000 kroner. Mikkel Bjørn, one of the party's MPs, expressed his disapproval in a speech during the second reading, stating that this "discount" would be borne by taxpayers.
"Every citizenship application submitted means ordinary, hardworking Danes will foot the bill," he grumbled. "We believe it's unsustainable for Danish citizenship applicants to receive a discount that their fellow citizens have to pay because foreigners apply and are sometimes rejected."
The party also complained about changes that would streamline the process for Nordic citizens with criminal records to become Danish citizens.
READ ALSO: A Lopsided Fee for Embracing Democracy
The government has defended the increase by claiming it's necessary to cover the full cost of processing citizenship applications.
On the other hand, The Red-Green Alliance and the Alternative parties disagreed, expressing concern that the exorbitant fee is unjust toward prospective citizens.
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Peder Hvelplund, immigration spokesperson for the far-left Red-Green Alliance, told The Local in February that the new fee amounts to a five-fold increase in just over a decade, making it "unfair and burdensome" for applicants.
The four MPs from the Social Liberal Party, who once opposed the increase, abstained from the vote.
The approved legislation is set to take effect starting May 1st this year.
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See Also
### Citizenship: A Privilege with a Steep Price Tag### Merit-Based Integration: Stricter Standards for Danish Citizenship### Unemployment Reform: A Left-Wing Perspective### Danish Public Holidays: A Calendar Full of Off-Days### Long-Term Residency: Denmark's Foreign Population Trends
- The passing of the new legislation has increased the cost of Danish citizenship to 6,000 krone, marking a significant rise from the previous fee.
- The proportion of parties supporting the price hike in Denmark's parliament was quite high, with seven out of 11 parties backing the policy-and-legislation.
- The true cost of the new citizenship fee will be shouldered by taxpayers, as some applicants will still pay a lower fee, according to the Danish People's Party.
- The new fee for Danish citizenship, which is set to take effect from May 1st, has been criticized as being unfair and burdensome by the far-left Red-Green Alliance.
- The policy-and-legislation related to Danish citizenship, including the rise in fees and changes in application processes, is a hot topic in general news and politics.
