[ad_1]
The slaughter of millions of mink as a preventative measure to prevent the spread of a new coronavirus mutation has created a political crisis in Denmark, with the Agriculture Minister resigning and the opposition calling for the government to fall.
In early November, the Danish government ordered 15 to 17 million mink to be slaughtered after authorities detected a mutation in SARS-CoV-2 that has already infected more than 200 people and can provoke the viability of a future vaccine by reducing the ability to neutralize antibodies.
As a precaution, the executive, led by Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, gave orders that all mink in the country be slaughtered and the army was even deployed to witness the extermination.
The ordinance, however, had no legal basis, as the government was only allowed to order the elimination of mink in areas affected by the outbreaks and not throughout the country, as ordered.
For this reason, in the face of growing opposition from the Danish parliament and the clash with the government itself, Agriculture Minister Mogens Jensen presented his resignation on Wednesday.
The opposition is not satisfied with Jensen’s departure and even calls for an end to Mette Frederiksen’s social democratic government.
“I want the Prime Minister to do the same,” said Jakob Elleman-Jensen of the Liberal Party. quoted by German wave. “I want the prime minister to recognize that when he makes a mistake it is his responsibility,” added the leader of the main opposition party.
Elleman-Jensen’s request for release was approved by other opposition parties, including the far-right Danish People’s Party.
Frederiksen, however, remains firm in his position and despite acknowledging that the slaughter order of 15 to 17 million minkes two weeks ago had no legal basis, he defends his decision, noting that it was made based on the recommendations of the authorities. of Greetings.
However, the Danish authorities have said that the mutation of the virus is “very likely” extinct.
In Denmark there are more than a thousand mink breeders, an animal in great demand especially for its fur, used to make coats. This industry employs more than six thousand people and represents around 800 million euros per year of exports.
Minks have shown enormous susceptibility to coronavirus infection, a problem aggravated by the fact that they are created in large numbers and in closed spaces, facilitating contagion.
Denmark is not the only country that has experienced mink slaughter in recent months. In July, the Aragon region of Spain ordered the eradication of more than 100,000 minks and, weeks later, the Netherlands – which banned the creation of these animals for the fur industry – did the same, slaughtering them. more than ten thousand mink.
.
[ad_2]
Source link
