Public spending is out of control, according to new figures from Statistics Denmark, which strongly conflict with those recently released by the government when it presented its budget plan.
Figures released by the state regarding public employee salaries and general operational costs showed zero growth, but data from Statistics Denmark show that public spending in the first half of the year increased by 10 billion kroner more than expected.
'This means that 40 percent of the 24 billion kroner the government had planned to save, over the coming three years through its rescue plan, has already been used up, mostly by the councils. So it would appear the government’s rescue plan following the financial downturn is beginning to unravel before it has even begun to take effect.
Claus Hjort Frederiksen, the minister of finance, admitted to Berlingske Tidende newspaper that the growth is worrying. He said, though, that the country is currently in a transitional period and that he was confident the rescue plan would start to take effect and slow the growth down. He also mentioned the possibility of more council agreements and another rescue package.
The Copenhagen Post
