Post by Last Week in Denmark

Hej Morten, Congrats on your new position. I’m writing as a fellow party member. An international of Romanian origin. Not a criminal, despite what some media stories can lead people to believe. I understand this may not have been your dream ministry. But when the music stops, we all take the chair available to us. No hard feelings there. But you don’t have to follow the path of previous ministers. You have a chance to write your own story and show the 15%+ of the population (nearly one million people) with international backgrounds that someone in government is willing to listen. So far, this ministry has built a reputation. For many internationals, it often appears more focused on deportations, reducing support, and making citizenship harder to obtain than on helping people become part of Danish society. The message many receive is simple: you are welcome to work here, pay taxes here, and help keep society running. But becoming fully accepted as part of the national community is another matter. Look, I understand what the Prime Minister is worried about. She doesn't want the far right to gain ground, and she doesn't want her government to appear weak on crime. But the people being affected are not criminals. Otherwise, I can't understand why 14,300 people who have fulfilled all the requirements for citizenship, passed all the tests, paid all the fees, spent years here, and followed all the rules are still being kept waiting with no clear timeline for a decision. You say you cannot move forward until the expert commission reports on whether citizenship candidates can be screened for anti-democratic views. The commission was supposed to deliver its conclusions this summer. Now it's been pushed to the end of the year. Is it really worth keeping 14,300 people in limbo while waiting for a report that may ultimately conclude that such a system is impossible to implement? You often say your focus is on removing people who threaten society. Fine. But what about the rest of us? The people who followed the rules. Who built businesses, raised families, volunteered, and care about this country. Why does the conversation always seem to focus on those who break the rules rather than those who follow them? The freeze only erodes trust. It's weakening people’s connection to Denmark. It is making them question whether they will ever truly belong, regardless of how much they contribute. Please do not let that happen. Come and talk to us. Get to know us. Meet the people behind the statistics. And use the powers you have to show that integration is not only about obligations but also about belonging. Adapted from this week's Letter from the Editor, Narcis George Matache 👇 What would you want to say to Denmark's new Minister for Immigration and Integration? --- 💌 Get Last Week in Denmark straight to your inbox via Substack 📢 Find us on your podcast app, YouTube, and all the socials. Read original reporting and opinions at our website.