According to TV2, Immigration and Integration Minister Rasmus Stoklund's statement regarding government assistance for Christmas has sparked widespread anger within the Social Democratic Party and several Danish municipalities. This article presents all the details from the TV2 report in their entirety, without omitting any information, attributing each statement to its original source, and rendering it in Arabic for publication.
The minister's statement sparks controversy within the Social Democratic Party.
بدأ الجدل عندما كتب وزير الهجرة والاندماج راسموس ستوكلوند Rasmus Stoklund على صفحته في فيسبوك أن المسلمين لا ينبغي لهم التقدّم بطلب للحصول على المساعدة الحكومية الخاصة بعيد الميلاد. وأكد الوزير في فيديو مرفق أن طلب المسلمين للمساعدة رغم عدم احتفالهم بالعيد يُعد في رأيه “تصرفاً غير لائق”. وقد تسببت هذه العبارة في إثارة غضب عدد من زملائه في الحزب وفي الحكومة.
Members of parliament from the same Social Democratic party refuse to link aid to religion.
وردّت المتحدثة باسم الأطفال في الحزب الاشتراكي الديمقراطي سارا إميل بارينغ Sara Emil Baaring بقولها على فيسبوك إن المساعدة الحكومية لا تتعلق بالدين، بل تتعلق بالأطفال. وكتب عدد من النواب أن الهدف من هذه المساعدة يتمثل في تخفيف الفجوة الاجتماعية بين الأطفال خلال موسم الأعياد، كما أشار الإعلان الرسمي لوزارة الشؤون الاجتماعية والإسكان إلى أن “عدم المساواة يصبح واضحاً في هذا الوقت من السنة”، بحسب TV2.
كما ذكر مقال TV2 ورأت النائبة ترينه برامسن Trine Bramsen أن المعايير يجب ألا تعتمد على الإيمان بـ”سانتا كلوز”، وأن أطفال العائلات التي تواجه ضائقة مالية لا يجب أن يُتركوا دون مساعدة، كما كتبت كاميلّا فابريشيوس Camilla Fabricius أن الإيمان بالـ”نيسه” لا ينبغي أن يحدد من يستحق المساعدة. وبدورها قالت النائبة غونفور ويبرُو Gunvor Wibroe إن قيم المجتمع تقوم على التضامن، ولذلك يجب ألا يُستبعد أي طفل محتاج.
Other MPs defend the minister
Despite the criticism, MP Bjørn Brandenborg adopted the minister's position, saying that he saw nothing controversial in his statement, arguing that aid should only go to those who celebrate the holiday, and that there is no need for those who do not celebrate it to ask for it.
Political analysis reveals cracks within the party
TV2 political analyst Morten Nielsen pointed out that the dispute over this issue reveals cracks within the Social Democratic Party, particularly on immigration, a matter the party leadership has carefully controlled for years. He explained that a public debate on immigration policy is the last thing Prime Minister and party leader Mette Frederiksen needs, especially after the recent municipal election results.
Criticism from mayors is mounting
كما أعرب عدد من رؤساء البلديات عن غضبهم الشديد، وقال توماس ليكه بيدرسن Thomas Lykke Pedersen، رئيس بلدية فردنسبرغ، إن تصريحات الوزير “لا يمكن أن تكون أبعد عن السياسة الاجتماعية للحزب”، مؤكداً أن الأمر يتعلق بالأطفال وليس بالدين، وأن الحزب لطالما دعم الأسر الأضعف بغض النظر عن خلفياتها.
ووصف بيدرسن تصريحات الوزير بأنها “غير اجتماعية ديمقراطية”، وأكد أنه كتب له رسالة يطالبه فيها بحذف منشوره، بحسب TV2.
Criticism from other municipalities
The newly elected mayor of Morsau, Jens Dahlgaard, expressed his displeasure at the controversy surrounding the children he teaches, saying he did not understand why such a discussion was needed since children from different backgrounds participate in school celebrations and look forward to the holiday, according to the source.
As for the mayor of Eschwey, Merete Amdisen, she spoke about families trying to spare their children the feeling of isolation when they return to school after the holiday to listen to their peers talking about gifts and celebrations. She added that integrating immigrants requires them to accept Danish traditions, and they cannot be asked to do so and at the same time criticized when they ask for help.
In the municipality of Sønderborg, Mayor Erik Lauritzen said he strongly objects to the minister's intervention in this matter, and that families should be able to provide a moment of celebration for their children without discrimination, according to TV2.
Christmas aid between municipalities and organizations
A TV2 report explained that there are multiple types of Christmas aid, some provided by municipalities and others distributed by organizations such as the Red Cross and Freelance Here. The Red Cross issued a statement saying that many families are facing economic pressures that make them unable to provide holiday food or gifts for children.
Newly elected Brondby mayor Maja Højgaard said aid standards should be set by the providers and called for a focus on real problems.
The questions continued unanswered by the minister and the prime minister.
TV2 noted that it tried to get a comment from Minister Rasmus Stocklund, but he refused to give an interview, and Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen also made no statement on the matter.
The government aid issue reveals a deeper conflict
TV2's coverage concludes by noting that the controversy surrounding government assistance for Christmas is no longer just a social or religious debate, but has become an indicator of divisions within the ruling party itself, reflecting a new phase of political tension in Denmark.
-
-
-
-
