Danish government reopens schools, immigrants left out

Peter Saxtrup Nielsen — 2020-04-15T16:55:36Z

As of April 15, Denmark has registered 6,511 coronavirus infections and 299 Covid-19 deaths, among the lowest rates thus far in northern Europe after the early adoption of social distancing and salary supports. This relative success is being put to the test this week as Denmark began “reopening schools on Wednesday after a month-long closure over the coronavirus, becoming the first country in Europe to do so,” according to the Guardian. “Nurseries, kindergartens and primary schools were reopening, according to an AFP correspondent, after they were closed on 12 March in an effort to curb the Covid-19 epidemic. However, classes are only resuming in about half of Denmark's municipalities and in about 35% of Copenhagen's schools, as some have requested more time to adjust to health protocols still in place.”

Denmark's healthcare system has been weakened by years of budget cuts and some worry that the push to reopen parts of the economy will needlessly put the public at risk as testing remains limited. Meanwhile, the Social Democrats under Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, along with the majority in parliament, approved a plan to pay 75 percent of workers' wages on behalf of businesses, costs that will pressurize the Danish budget in the coming months and open up a political fight over taxation and how to deal with the emerging recession.

- IV543 - April 2020 / Denmark, Covid-19 Pandemic

The strategic role of the soviets in the class struggle

Peter Saxtrup Nielsen — 2018-01-22T18:06:08Z

Regardless of one's opinion on The Russian Revolution and the subsequent development of Russian society, the self-organized workers' councils – the soviets – remain an important breakthrough. For the most part, the discussion of the centenary of the revolution has conveniently steered clear of this subject. Nonetheless, understanding the soviets and its council structure remains central to understanding both how the revolution came about, and what its goals were. “All power to the soviets”, the slogan went, but what power, and what are soviets actually? These are central questions for any future attempts to change the world.

- Features / Marxism, Historical events and figures, Features

International Viewpoint - online socialist magazine

Danish government reopens schools, immigrants left out

The strategic role of the soviets in the class struggle