Free Conservatives
Encyclopedia
The Free Conservatives was a political party
in Denmark
, with significant influence in the political life of the country in the early 20th century, especially during the J. C. Christensen
cabinet. The main leader of the party was Count Mogens Frijs-Frijsenborg. Other prominent figures were Tage Reedtz-Thott
, Hans Nicolai Hansen
and Christian Michael Rottbøll. The party opposed socialism
but it founders could not reconcile with the political line of the main conservative party Højre
under the leadership of Jacob Estrup. The Free Conservatives worked for unity between Folketinget and Landstinget.
around a new tax reform. The plans of a new unified party failed, and 'the eight' came to function as a separate faction. The tax reform proposal, which 'the eight' and Venstre had agreed upon, was adopted by Folketinget in 1900. However, in Landstinget Højre launched a counterproposal. As a result 'the eight' broke away from Højre and formed a separate party with 9 Landsting members. Informally, the name of the new party was 'the Free Conservatives'. The name was formally adopted by the party in 1902.
to be introduced in the amt council elections. The party was also participant in the fall of Peter Adler Alberti in 1908. However, in 1912 Venstre presented a proposal for a democratic constitution for Denmark. This caused a split between Venstre and the Free Conservatives. After the new constitution was introduced in 1915, the Free Conservatives reunified with Højre, forming the Conservative People's Party
.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
, with significant influence in the political life of the country in the early 20th century, especially during the J. C. Christensen
J. C. Christensen
Jens Christian Christensen , most often called J. C. Christensen with the 'J' pronounced as an 'I', was a Danish politician normally considered the most important Danish political figure between circa 1900 and 1920.Born into a West Jutland peasant family and starting as a herd boy he was educated a...
cabinet. The main leader of the party was Count Mogens Frijs-Frijsenborg. Other prominent figures were Tage Reedtz-Thott
Tage Reedtz-Thott
Baron Kjeld Thor Tage Otto Reedtz-Thott was a Danish politician, member of the Højre political party. He was Council President of Denmark from 1894 to 1897 as the leader of the Cabinet of Reedtz-Thott....
, Hans Nicolai Hansen
Hans Nicolai Hansen
Hans Nicolai Hansen was a Danish politician, lawyer and speaker of the Landsting, a chamber of the parliament....
and Christian Michael Rottbøll. The party opposed socialism
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
but it founders could not reconcile with the political line of the main conservative party Højre
Højre
Højre was the name of two Danish political parties of Conservative persuasion.The first Højre party existed from 1848 to 1866....
under the leadership of Jacob Estrup. The Free Conservatives worked for unity between Folketinget and Landstinget.
Founding
The founders of the Free Conservatives, originally eight Landsting members from Højre, had tried to forge unity between the moderate sectors of Højre and VenstreVenstre (Denmark)
VenstreThe party name is officially not translated into any other language, but is in English often referred to as the Liberal Party. Similar rules apply for the name of the party's youth wing Venstres Ungdom. , full name Venstre, Danmarks Liberale Parti , is the largest political party in Denmark...
around a new tax reform. The plans of a new unified party failed, and 'the eight' came to function as a separate faction. The tax reform proposal, which 'the eight' and Venstre had agreed upon, was adopted by Folketinget in 1900. However, in Landstinget Højre launched a counterproposal. As a result 'the eight' broke away from Højre and formed a separate party with 9 Landsting members. Informally, the name of the new party was 'the Free Conservatives'. The name was formally adopted by the party in 1902.
Relations with Venstre
Between 1901 and 1912, the Free Conservatives had considerable influence over the policies of the Venstre governments. The party was able to bar universal suffrageUniversal suffrage
Universal suffrage consists of the extension of the right to vote to adult citizens as a whole, though it may also mean extending said right to minors and non-citizens...
to be introduced in the amt council elections. The party was also participant in the fall of Peter Adler Alberti in 1908. However, in 1912 Venstre presented a proposal for a democratic constitution for Denmark. This caused a split between Venstre and the Free Conservatives. After the new constitution was introduced in 1915, the Free Conservatives reunified with Højre, forming the Conservative People's Party
Conservative People's Party (Denmark)
The Conservative People's Party , also known as Conservatives is a Danish political party.-History:The party was founded 1915 based mostly on its predecessor, Højre , but also on the Free Conservatives and a moderate faction of Venstre , the liberals.The party has participated in several coalition...
.