Twilight 2000 Nordic Sourcebook: Organizations

[John Farson]

The following are descriptions of the most important organizations in the Nordic countries (military, political and fringe). Many smaller groups are formed and dissolved all the time, so the gamemaster should not feel himself confined to this list alone.

Kingdom of Denmark

Pre-war: Denmark was a constitutional monarchy whose queen served as the nation’s figurehead and chief PR person. Legislative power was held by a 340-member parliament, which normally decided things. However, a direct referendum could be held if 2/3 of the parliament was for it. Executive power was held by the prime minister and an 18-member cabinet, which was accountable to parliament. At the beginning of the war the Social Democrats were in power.

The war: The entire royal family was killed in the bombing of Copenhagen, which is why Denmark is now effectively a republic led by a few ministers. The war and subsequent bombing of Copenhagen changed everything as the government was killed almost to the last minister. In the resulting panic the country lacked any real leadership, but order was restored thanks to prompt action by the authorities as well as the withdrawal of the Danish Schleswig Regiment from Germany back to Denmark in December 1997, when they were re-assigned internal security duties. Former education minister Aase Haarder became an important figure during this time. His systematic and determined efforts in gathering together the remnants of the old parliament and government finally bore fruit, and the provisional military government was replaced with a civilian government elected by parliament, consisting of a few ministers and former members of parliament. The new government unanimously voted to continue martial law until the raider groups and general chaos could be defeated.

Structure: Denmark’s current system of government is a remnant of its previous version. Parliament is effectively non-existent as a five-member cabinet holds all legislative and executive power. The government consists of a prime minister, minister of defense, minister of the interior, minister of agriculture and fishing, and minister of trade and industry. Assisting the government are a large number of various civil servants who turn what would otherwise be a simple administrative machine into a slow and bureaucratic one. Sometimes bribery seems to be the only way to get anywhere. Civil servants are just as honorable (or dishonorable) as anywhere else during these restless times. Usually Danish bureaucrats accept bribes in gold, for they have enough food.

Leaders: Denmark’s current leader is Prime Minister Aase Haarder, who was education minister before the war. The other ministries are distributed in the following fashion: Ole Kock-Olesen (Minister of Defense), Palle Olesen (Minister of Agriculture and Fishing), Gustav Sandman (Minister of Trade and Industry), Annette Nielsen (Minister of the Interior).