A broad majority in the Folketing has reached an agreement on a new epidemic law. The law ensures that there is professionalism behind and democratic support for the in some cases far-reaching decisions, which may need to be made for the sake of public health. The new epidemic law protects the rights of the individual and ensures increased transparency around decisions. It writes the Ministry of Health and the Elderly in a press release.
Denmark is still struggling with a Corona epidemic, which the Folketing, the government and the health authorities must be able to act on within a reasonable legal framework. This is how it will be well into 2021. Therefore, a broad majority in the Folketing consisting of the government (Social Democracy), Venstre, Radikale Venstre, Socialist Folkeparti, Enhedslisten, Det Konservative Folkeparti, Liberal Alliance and Alternativet have agreed on the content of epidemilov, which must ensure the balance between the need to make quick decisions and the consideration that there must be parliamentary support and professionalism behind it.
“Neither the Folketing nor the government will again be in a situation like in the spring of 2020, where we had to adopt a new epidemic law with great urgency in order to have the necessary powers to contain and prevent covid-19 infection. We will soon have a long-lasting epidemic law, which constitutes the necessary legal framework for the Danish authorities’ handling of serious infectious diseases – also in the future. A law that a broad majority in the Folketing is behind, “says Magnus Heunicke, Minister of Health and the Elderly.
The new epidemic law replaces the legislation that was passed by the Folketing in the spring of 2020 after urgent treatment. . Therefore, the Minister of Health and the Elderly was given the opportunity to expand his political scope, and the authorities were given the opportunity to introduce a number of far-reaching measures. The emergency legislation was covered by a sunset clause, which means that it expires on March 1, 2021.
“Today we are wiser on covid-19 than we were in the spring and there is a prospect that the first vaccines will be ready soon. The government has listened to the other parties’ wishes for a future epidemic law, and we share the desire for parliamentary control and transparency around measures that can be extremely intrusive towards the citizens, “says Magnus Heunicke.
Kristian Hegaard, legal spokesman for the Radicals, notes that there can no longer be coercion in connection with a pandemic.
“We have landed a new epidemic law that incorporates several of the elementary principles of the rule of law. Compulsory medication has come out of the law. And the agreement has been made across the middle, which is very satisfactory. ”
SF focuses on better preparedness.
“There will be transparency in the decisions. And in the future, we will be significantly better prepared if we are hit by a new pandemic, «points out SF’s health spokesperson Kirsten Nordmann Andersen.
Pernille Skipper, political spokesperson for the Unity List, attaches importance to the interests of the individual in relation to the community in the new agreement text.
“We have found a balance between taking into account the individual and taking into account the general principles of freedom. And when interventions are made in the future, they cannot be extended beyond four weeks without the Folketing having to decide again what is to happen next. ”
Per Larsen, health spokesman for the Conservatives, is also satisfied.
“Now we get a robust epidemic law and we get democracy back. It is a huge strength compared to now that the Minister has wide powers. The Folketing will make the decisions – a really good foundation. ”
Henrik Dahl, health spokesman for the Liberal Alliance, points out that political responsibility is expanding.
“We’ve got a third disease category. It is difficult to deal with unknown diseases, but we can now with the third category. It is fantastic that we have a covid-19 law and not a Mette Frederiksen law. “
The Epidemic Act was presented by the government and the parties behind it in connection with a doorstep on Friday in front of the Folketing Hall in Vandrehallen at Christiansborg.
Source: jyllands-posten.dk
