Copenhagen, 18/09/2000 (Agence Europe) - On the fringe of the Congress of the Social-Democrat Party in Aalborg, Danish Prime Minister Poul Nyrup Rasmussen told AFP that a "no" vote in the 28 September referendum on Denmark's signing up to the euro would be a "great political loss" for the country, as well as, in the longer term, an economic one". According to him, the no camp is not concerned at the consequences of its actions (…) Opponents of the euro are currently sowing doubts and uncertainty in the minds of citizens, claiming, for example, that joining the euro zone would threaten pensioners and the State's very foundations, which is wrong and ultra-wrong". And, alluding to the growing pressure on the kroner, he noted: "We already have a foretaste of what to expect if we reject the euro".
The President of the European Central Bank, Wim Duisenberg said in an interview with the Danish daily "Aktuelt" that, even if the "no" vote wins in the referendum, the ECB would continue to defend the Danish kroner against such pressure. Referring to the European Monetary System II, he said: "This contract is unlimited, and the ECB has no intention of changing it as long as Denmark fulfills its commitments and pursues its policy of the stability of the korner's exchange rate".