The opposition (red and blue) stands united against the government in a major crisis over the cancellation of a holiday to fund defense.

The government is adamant: the holiday for the Great Prayer Day (store bededag) will be cancelled no matter what.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, head of the new SVM government, delivered an opening speech in the Danish Parliament at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, during which she presented the SVM government's bill of laws.

Mette Frederiksen stated that the heated debate surrounding the abolition of the holiday store bededag does not alter the fact that the government intends to put the proposal to a vote. Since the government holds a majority in the Danish parliament, including members of the coalition parties (the Social Democratic Party, the Liberal Party, and the Moderate Party), it can effectively pass the resolution without the votes of the other parties.

The SVM government insists that abolishing the holiday is the solution to funding the upcoming defense settlement goals, which are to allocate 2% of the Danish GDP to defense by 2030, in order to strengthen Denmark’s security against Russia and any potential threats.

All other parliamentary parties have declared that they stand united as a united opposition to the government and refuse to participate if the government continues to demand the cancellation of the holiday days as a ticket to negotiations, even though the opposition consists of right-wing (blue) and left-wing (red) parties.

Mette Frederiksen said the government was open to hearing new ideas for defense funding, but nevertheless the government's position remained to abolish the public holiday, adding that it would be put to a vote.

Defense Minister Jakob Ellemann-Jensen, leader of the Liberal Party, said he informed the parties on Friday that they would have to respond within a week as to whether or not they would vote to abolish the Great Prayer Days, and that parties that answered with a "no" would not be invited to negotiations on a new defense settlement.

“When you have to spend money, you also have to help find the money,” said Jakob Elman Jensen, explaining that at the moment no single alternative to the public holiday had been presented to him that could bring a majority behind it. He added that if the opposition parties came up with “realistic” proposals for other funding for the defense settlement, he would of course listen.

“I don’t think we’re beating the drums,” Mette Frederiksen said in an interview with TV 2, explaining that the government “has no desire” to reach a defense settlement based solely on the SVM government’s mandates.

In the same context, the trade union movement in Balaz demanded a public referendum on canceling a holiday to fund defense, a demand rejected by the Prime Minister.

The trade union movement's desire comes after a great deal of criticism from the trade union movement against Mette Frederiksen and the government for "beating the drum" at social partners, to which Mette Frederiksen responded: "I don't think we are deceiving them. I have great respect for the trade union movement. Everyone knows this. I have been in it myself. The responsibility for overall Danish policy now lies here at home.".

Mette Frederiksen also confirmed on Tuesday that she sees no problem with Danes having to work an extra day.