Danish Rightwinger Kristian Thulesen Dahl Rides High On Populist Tide

When Kristian Thulesen Dahl first heard that election night exit polls were predicting a doubling of support for his populist, rightwing Danish People’s party, he burst into song. Cheered on by supporters on a stage in Copenhagen, he led the celebrations with a rendition of the Liverpool FC anthem You’ll Never Walk Alone.
Dahl’s companionable choice of song was not out of place in a country that pays close attention to British politics and lifestyles. Last week the multiparty right-of-centre alliance that is now expected to take power in Denmark, led by Lars Lokke Rasmussen’s Venstre party, pledged support for David Cameron’s efforts to reform the European Union.