Sigurd Ømann
Encyclopedia
Sigurd Ømann was chairman of the Socialist People's Party
of Denmark
in the period 1968-1974. Before he joined to Socialist People's Party he was a member of the Communist Party of Denmark
from 1953 to 1958. He was a member of parliament for the Socialist People's Party in the period 1966-1977. He left parliament and the party in 1977.
when Aksel Larsen
resigned in 1968. The political climate in his period as chairman was marked by the referendum on Denmark's EC membership
in 1972 as well as the Social Democrats
being in opposition and the need for the two left-wing parties to position themselves.
In 1971 the Left Socialists
lost parliamentary representation and the Socialist People's Party became the only party in parliament to the left of the Social Democrats. Although Ømann wanted to cooperate with the Social Democrats, such cooperation did not start until 1973 when a national budget deficit created a wish for a more restrictive financial policy. The parliamentary right wing wanted to cut more costs than the Social Democrats or the Socialist People's Party wanted, so the two parties made an agreement on budget cuts and increases in corporation taxes. In June 1973 a compromise between the two parties on rent regulation forced the Socialist People's Party to accept increases in rents which were contrary to the party's policies.
In the campaign leading up to the referendum on Denmark's EC membership in 1972, the Socialist People's Party was the only party in parliament to campaign against EC membership and was a co-founder of the People's Movement against the EC
.
During Ømann's time as chairman in the 1970s
environmental issues began to attract attention when the Left Socialists adopted an environmental policy. At first the Socialist People's Party was skeptical but pressure from party members made the party adopt an environmental policy of its own.
Ømann's wish for cooperation with the Social Democrats was not universally supported inside the party where some members wanted a more critical line towards the center-left and more emphasis on appealing to extra-parliamentary organisations.
In 1974 Gert Petersen
, who was seen as more left-wing than Ømann, took over as chairman.
Socialist People's Party (Denmark)
The Socialist People's Party is a green and socialist political party in Denmark.-1959–69:The SF was founded on 15 February 1959 by Aksel Larsen, a former leader of the Communist Party of Denmark and CIA agent. Larsen was removed from the ranks of the DKP for his criticism over the Soviet...
of 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...
in the period 1968-1974. Before he joined to Socialist People's Party he was a member of the Communist Party of Denmark
Communist Party of Denmark
Communist Party of Denmark is a communist political party in Denmark which was founded as Venstresocialistiske Parti in 1919. VSP was a split from the Danish Social Democratic Party. The party assumed its present name in 1920...
from 1953 to 1958. He was a member of parliament for the Socialist People's Party in the period 1966-1977. He left parliament and the party in 1977.
Party chairman
Ømann became chairman of the Socialist People's PartySocialist People's Party (Denmark)
The Socialist People's Party is a green and socialist political party in Denmark.-1959–69:The SF was founded on 15 February 1959 by Aksel Larsen, a former leader of the Communist Party of Denmark and CIA agent. Larsen was removed from the ranks of the DKP for his criticism over the Soviet...
when Aksel Larsen
Aksel Larsen
Aksel Larsen was a Danish politician who was chairman of the Communist Party of Denmark and chairman and founder of the Socialist People's Party. Larsen became leader of the Communist Party in 1932, and was elected to the Danish Parliament in 1932...
resigned in 1968. The political climate in his period as chairman was marked by the referendum on Denmark's EC membership
Danish European Communities membership referendum, 1972
A referendum on joining the European Economic Community was held in Denmark on 2 October 1972. The result was 63.3% in favour with a turnout of 90.1%...
in 1972 as well as the Social Democrats
Social Democrats (Denmark)
The Social Democrats , is a Danish political party committed to the political ideology of social democracy. It is the major coalition partner in Denmark's government since the 2011 parliamentary election, and party leader Helle Thorning-Schmidt is the current Prime Minister of Denmark...
being in opposition and the need for the two left-wing parties to position themselves.
In 1971 the Left Socialists
Left Socialists
Left Socialists , a political party in Denmark. VS works on what it calls a 'undogmatic revolutionary and Marxist basis'.It was formed in 1967 as a split from the Socialist People's Party . VS was represented by the letter "Y" on the electoral ballots. VS members of parliament were respected and...
lost parliamentary representation and the Socialist People's Party became the only party in parliament to the left of the Social Democrats. Although Ømann wanted to cooperate with the Social Democrats, such cooperation did not start until 1973 when a national budget deficit created a wish for a more restrictive financial policy. The parliamentary right wing wanted to cut more costs than the Social Democrats or the Socialist People's Party wanted, so the two parties made an agreement on budget cuts and increases in corporation taxes. In June 1973 a compromise between the two parties on rent regulation forced the Socialist People's Party to accept increases in rents which were contrary to the party's policies.
In the campaign leading up to the referendum on Denmark's EC membership in 1972, the Socialist People's Party was the only party in parliament to campaign against EC membership and was a co-founder of the People's Movement against the EC
People's Movement against the EU
The People's Movement against the EU is a political association in Denmark against the European Union. It was founded in 1972 as a cross-party campaign platform for a 'no' vote in Denmark's referendum on EEC membership...
.
During Ømann's time as chairman in the 1970s
1970s
File:1970s decade montage.png|From left, clockwise: US President Richard Nixon doing the V for Victory sign after his resignation from office after the Watergate scandal in 1974; Refugees aboard a US naval boat after the Fall of Saigon, leading to the end of the Vietnam War in 1975; The 1973 oil...
environmental issues began to attract attention when the Left Socialists adopted an environmental policy. At first the Socialist People's Party was skeptical but pressure from party members made the party adopt an environmental policy of its own.
Ømann's wish for cooperation with the Social Democrats was not universally supported inside the party where some members wanted a more critical line towards the center-left and more emphasis on appealing to extra-parliamentary organisations.
In 1974 Gert Petersen
Gert Petersen
Gert Verner Petersen was a journalist and politician who helped found and represent the Socialist People's Party. He was born in Nykøbing Falster, Denmark, as the son of the factory worker Karen Rolandsen...
, who was seen as more left-wing than Ømann, took over as chairman.