venstre

Venstre, officially Venstre, the Liberal Party, is a major political party in Denmark. Although its name translates as “Left” in Danish, it today sits on the center-right of the political spectrum and is commonly described as liberal-conservative or classical liberal. It has played a central role in modern Danish politics since its founding in the 1870s, emerging from agrarian interests and the movement for constitutional reform.

Ideology and policy: Venstre advocates free-market economics, private enterprise, tax relief, deregulation, and public-sector reform designed to improve efficiency. It supports a welfare state that emphasizes growth, mobility, and social cohesion, financed through economic expansion rather than large tax increases. The party generally supports Denmark's membership in the European Union and seeks to balance national interests with EU integration. It emphasizes law and order, defense, and education reform.

Organization: Venstre is organized as a national party with regional branches, a parliamentary group in the Folketing (the Danish parliament), and a youth wing, Venstres Ungdom. At the European level it is affiliated with the liberal family, Renew Europe.

Historical note: Venstre has been one of Denmark's two leading parties, often forming or supporting center-right coalition governments, and it has competed with the Social Democrats for governmental leadership. Its influence has waxed and waned with elections, but it remains a core institution of Danish liberal-conservative politics.