The Danish government's policies on immigration met with hard blows from the speaker dais in the parliament's opening debate

Copenhagen Post:

'There are many people, in this country too, who are obviously trying to overthrow the foundations that our society stands on,' Liberal MP Jens Rohde said from the parliament's speaker podium on Thursday, as criticism hailed over the government for its immigration policies.

Daily newspaper Politiken reported that the biggest opposition party, the Social Democrats, had led the attacks on Anders Fogh Rasmussen's Liberal-Conservative minority government as the parliament reopened after summer recess.

The government's support party, the Danish People's Party, has recently been under fire after two prominent party members expressed demeaning opinions about Muslim immigrants.

Høgni Hoydal, one of two representatives from the Faeroe Islands in the Danish parliament, pressed the governing Liberal Party on the subject. Hoydal pointed out that the government plans to force every foreigner to sign an oath of allegiance before receiving a residence permit in the country. By swearing the oath, immigrants are to denounce terrorism and accept a number of fundamental values.

'What exactly are these values?' Hoydal asked Rohde, who speaks for his party on political issues.

'They are, amongst other things, respect for democracy and secularism,' Rohde said. 'Our society is founded upon a secular - not religious - foundation.'

Hoydal went on to ask why, in that case, every Dane was not requested to swear the oath.

Rohde answered that immigrants should be made to promise that they would not try to overthrow the society.

'We must face the fact that there are many people, in this country too, who are obviously trying to overthrow the foundations that our society stands on,' he said.

Liberals confirm 24 year rule here to stay