CPH Post 2021 Election Special Edition by The Copenhagen Post

PHOTO: PIXABAY

IN T RODU CTION

DOORSTEP DECISION DAY

Effect real change in your community and head to the polls on Tuesday!

By Ben Hamilton Let’s face it: it’s these elections you want to vote in. They pertain to your healthcare (where your baby might be born, where that crucial operation might take place etc), the state of your community (roads, schools and leisure), and how much assistance you get in your integration. That’s an awful lot of money being spent! It’s understandable if you don’t want to have a say on where Denmark sends its troops or how it polices its streets or rehabilitates its prisoners – maybe you think it’s none of your business. But many of you, as taxpayers, will feel you have the right, and if that’s the case, don’t overlook this opportunity. Because when that day comes in 20, 30, 40 years time – when governments wake up to how diasporas are as integral to modern cities as good sewage systems – and our right to vote in the nationals is seriously debated, it’s not going to look good if under half of us voted in the last locals. Poor record of voting That’s right, Mr Apathy. In the Capital Region in 2017 the turnout

among ethnic Danes was 77.4 percent, but among immigrants and their descendants (all foreigners, not just the nasty media branding ‘indvandring’), the rates were just 37.7 and 38.9 percent. In 2013, it was even worse at just 33.5 percent.

By rights, if foreigners account for a quarter of the electorate, at least one of these seven mayors should be ‘one of our own’, but they’re not: not even close. Because when are the foreigners in the country going to harness their power and make a difference?

These figures were more or less the same in every municipality we looked at, but they are most telling in the Capital Region and Copenhagen itself, as this is where the immigrants can make the biggest difference. It’s not like this is something new: foreigners have had the right to vote since 1980.

Besides, don’t we want to send out a signal that we care about this country and aren’t just ships that pass in the night. If we don’t vote, we don’t count: we’re just guests, and we’ll continue to be treated like guests.

In Copenhagen, fewer than three out of every four residents eligible to vote are ethnic Danes. There are 387,000 compared to 132,000 immigrants (plus 83,000 aged 0-18). Of these, 57,000 are expats (generally from EU countries, the UK and US) and the rest are what the media like to call ‘indvandring’. In the Capital Region, the spread is slightly more Dane-heavy at 1.179 million over 299,000. Foreign representation After all, we’ve lost count of the number of Copenhagen mayors who’ve had to stand down in recent years because of one scandal or the other.

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Not everyone approves! Clearly some parties (left bloc stalwarts like Radikale) want foreigners to vote more than others (right-wingers like Dansk Folkeparti and Nye Borgerlige, who want the right taken away). “I am running for Radikale in both Frederiksberg and in the Capital Region, where the density of foreigners is relatively high, and I not only think these newcomers should have the right to vote, I also strongly encourage them to use it, regardless of which party they favour,” contends David Zepernick, a Radikale councillor in Frederiksberg.

the right wing, tend to emphasise obligations only. I would like to emphasise rights as well. In this case democratic rights!” Slight the far right When politicians like Zepernick do reach out to foreigners, it often results in accusations of fishing for votes - yes, from those same rightwing politicians who want you to stay at home and ensure a city like Copenhagen is set up to serve the Danes first and foremost. “I am aware of the risk of accusations for vote-fishing. And yes, as we are the most pro-European party in Denmark, so it is likely that reaching out to some of the new voters might benefit Radikale disproportionately,” conceded Zepernick “But I think this is more a matter of principle than a matter of party politics. I think the old political slogan from the American Revolution “No taxation without representation” is a source of inspiration, and why shouldn´t foreigners have a say in how their tax money is spent? So if you like the idea of cocking a snook at some of the nasty politicians on the far right, there’s an extra incentive to vote.

“To me it’s a way to say welcome, we acknowledge you. When speaking about foreigners, Publisher: CPH POST • Editor: Hans Hermansen • Journalists: Ben Hamilton, Lena Hunter, Danes, especially those on Marius Rolland • Layout: CPH POST Info: hans@cphpost.dk • Tel: +45 2420 2411

NEWS

Socialdemokratiet mayor candidate in Lemvig, where Venstre has held power for 47 years, refreshingly realistic about her chances of an upset

In 41 of the country’s 98 municipalities the party of the presiding mayor has not changed over the last 16 years.

By Ben Hamilton

To prove the point, TV2 Midt-Vest caught up with the Socialdemokratiet candidate for mayor in Lemvig in west Jutland, a safe Venstre seat, at her local Kvickly over the weekend.

By now, thanks to the huge interest in Barack Obama and Donald Trump’s campaigns, we all know what swing states are.

Months before every US election, you can safely colour in over half the map with either red or blue. States with huge city areas will be blue and mostly rural areas will be red. Only occasionally will someone buck the trend – like Ronald Reagan in California in 1980, where the Republican had been the former mayor. Shortage of ‘swing states’ Well, heading towards the local and regional elections on Tuesday November 16, Denmark is not much different, reports DR.

SWING MUNICIPALITIES, SURE THINGS AND SURPRISING HONESTY

Did Lone Pilgaard Sørensen have a chance of unseating the blue bloc. “Neee-hej,” she laughed, which roughly translates as “Not on your nelly!” “I’m not Comical Ali” The good humour continued with a reference to Mohammed Saeed al-Sahhaf, the former media and foreign affairs minister for Iraq. “I would be Comical Ali if I stood here and said that Socialdemocratiet will have the mayoral post after the next election,” she said. “For me to win, the citizens of Lem-

LONE PILGAARD SØRENSEN

vig Municipality would have to do something completely different.” The incumbent mayor, Erik Flyvholm, has been in power since 2007 – and his party Venstre for 47 years. It holds 12 of the 21 seats on the municipal council. Homogenous homies Ulrik Kjær, a municipal researcher at the University of Southern Denmark, attributes the situation across Denmark as an indicator of how homogenous communities are. “In many places, we live door-todoor with people who are similar to ourselves,” she explained.

The only excitement in a lot of municipalities, she concluded, is seeing how big the margin of victory is. Not unprecedented But could Sørensen pull off a Ronnie? In the early 1990s, Socialdemokratiet candidate Hilmar Sølund unseated the Venstre mayor – a seat the party had held for 77 years. And another upset occurred in Aarhus in 2002, when Venstre candidate Louise Gade unseated the long-standing Socialdemokratiet mayor.

“There are some mayoral candidates whose only hope is finding voters in the other parties’ core voter groups. It’s tough!”

Sørensen says no, not this year, but that she is more optimistic about 2025!

Women’s magazine after all

Enhedslisten ahead

An Alt for Damerne survey is under fire for helping readers to find the perfect candidate. The only snag is that every suggestion is a woman. Editor Rikke Dal Støttrup was unapologetic on TV2, pointing out that women hold only a third of all the seats. “Why not hit two birds with one stone and find one that fits your ideology and your gender,” she reasoned, adding that somebody on the council needs to ensure that urban spaces are safe and that it’s easy to get around with a pram.

An Epinion poll of Copenhageners reveals that 22.4 percent would vote for Enhedslisten, compared to 20.6 percent for Socialdemokratiet – down 7.0 percent on its performance in 2017, while the far left has gained around 4 percent. However, pundits expect Socialdemokratiet to catch up as it has more money to spend on campaigning. Furthermore, regardless of the result, the next mayor is likely to be Socialdemokratiet, as centre left is far more palatable to the other parties than hard left.

NEWS

New report reveals a top five who all outearn PM Mette Frederiksen as a result

By Ben Hamilton A report produced by analysis company Kaas & Mulvad for TV2 reveals that local politicians will make 47.9 million kroner from filling 1,232 extra posts: seats on boards, housing associations and energy companies, mostly.

MOST MAYORS SUPPLEMENT THEIR SALARY WITH SEATS ON BOARDS

Of the country’s 98 municipality mayors, 76 take on extra seats. The top five earners The report has put together a top five of the biggest earners.

JACOB BUNDSGAARD

Two are Socialdemokratiet: Jacob Bundsgaard in Aarhus and Peter Rahbæk Juel in Odense; two are Venstre: Jørn Pedersen in Kolding and Martin Damm in Kalundborg; and one Konservative: Michael Ziegler in Høje-Taastrup. It’s estimated that Juel, for example, makes close to an extra 600,000 kroner a year. Two say no However, two have chosen to say no: Svendborg’s Bo Hansen and Aalborg’s Thomas Kastrup-Larsen, both of whom are Socialdemokratiet. Like in many countries, Danish politicians do not

make huge salaries. PM Mette Frederiksen, for example, gets 1.6 million kroner a year – a sum

the aforementioned top five surpass thanks to their supplementary income.

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NEWS

Ten posters displaying Thomas Rohden’s support for Tibet are quickly removed following their erection outside the embassy

By Ben Hamilton There’s David and Goliath, the classic 1959 ﬁlm ‘The Mouse that Roared’, James Buster Douglas beating Mike Tyson and Foinavon, the plucky British horse that won the world’s toughest race after every other rider was unseated at the 23rd fence. And now you can add Thomas Rohden, a Radikale local election candidate barely out of nappies, to the list. This past month, he has been taking on China! SoMe post becomes story Rohden passionately believes that the Capital Region should cut ties with China while it continues to occupy Tibet, and over the weekend of October 23-24 he hung up ten local election posters displaying his support … outside the Chinese Em-

bassy on Øregårds Allé in Hellerup. He then publicised the fact on Facebook and got 425 likes – hardly a landslide in social media terms. However, instead of accepting the democratic right of the prospective politician and likelihood the ‘story’ would quickly disappear – experience tells us it takes two to tango – the posters were quickly ripped down. Story becomes incident And then it got worse: the embassy issued a statement. Suddenly the ears of media all over Denmark were tingling. Thomas Rohden was about to become a minor celebrity.

THOMAS ROHDEN

“We express our strong indignation at this deliberate provocation on Anti-China Posters in Front of the Embassy,” it stated.

so-called ‘freedom of speech’. Tibet is an inalienable part of China, and any attempt to separate it from China is bound to fail.”

“We ﬁrmly oppose any attempt to interfere in China’s internal aﬀairs and to undermine its sovereignty and territorial integrity under the pretext of election campaign or the

Incident becomes ‘crime’ But Rohden knows his rights. “Today I have reported the Chinese embassy for theft,” he said. “It is very possible that in China you can just tear down unwanted political messages, but here in Denmark, the constitution guarantees the freedom to express itself. There are rules that also the Chinese Embassy must comply with and respect.”

My vision for Copenhagen is a city where there is room for the young and the elderly, for the student and for the health care worker: for all sorts of backgrounds and nationalities.

I WORK FOR: Better welfare – affordable housing – a safe and healthy community – a secure labour market REMEMBER YOU CAN VOTE - VOTE PERSONALLY FOR:

TRINE

MADSEN Follow me: facebook.com/trinmads

MEET THE MIGHTY MOUSE THAT ROARS

Read more on my webpage: trine-madsen.dk

ELECTION GUIDE NOV EM B ER 2 021

I tried to explain why these posters are necessary.” Crime = ticking oﬀ The removal of the posters has even drawn comment from the foreign minister, Jeppe Kofod, who said he found the action “worrying”. The police are considering an investigation, and Kofod will wait to see their conclusion before pursuing further action. Rohden is unequivocal about the action he would like to see: a cessation of all ties with China while they continue to occupy Tibet!

Rohden then returned with new posters: “I spent the afternoon putting up new posters in front of the Chinese Embassy. It happened with a great company of journalists who

“The message that the Capital Region stop its co-operation with China and terminate its co-operation agreement with Jiangsu Province, of course, still needs to go out,” he said.

Possible German mayor?

Deliberate policy

Denmark could have its ﬁrst German mayor for 75 years in Tønder in southern Jutland, where Schleswig Party’s leading candidate, Jørgen Popp Petersen, is making ground on Venstre. The party, which represents the interests of the German minority, has a strong presence in both the municipalities of Sønderborg and Tønder. Petersen has held a seat on Tønder Municipality’s council for 12 years. The German minority accounts for 15,000 Danes in four south Jutland municipalities.

Six Nye Borgerlige candidates have been accused of peddling false claims about corona vaccines, reports TV2. The number involved would appear to suggest this is a deliberate election policy. One claims vaccine side-eﬀects are putting more strain on the health service than COVID-19, while another claims more will die from the vaccine than the disease. In July, a candidate on Bornholm called Sundhedsstyrelsen head Søren Brostrøm a “murderer” and “a corrupt dung beetle”.

NEWS

SWASTIKAS FLYING BOTH WAYS: POSTER VANDALS TARGETING BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT

The evidence on the ﬁrst morning of campaigning was that the creatures have really gone to work, as his placard was daubed in all manner of graﬃti. A swastika was visible among the unwelcome additions.

Midday Saturday was the green light to erect the posters ... midnight was the starting gun for their desecration

By Ben Hamilton The 83rd anniversary of Kristallnacht (the Night of Broken Glass), a pogrom against Jews carried out by the Nazis on 9–10 November 1938, was again a cue for anti-Semites all over the country to carry out vile vandalism. Just two years ago they desecrated 80 headstones in Randers – just one of many cities targeted in the region. Vallensbæk, Silkeborg, Aarhus, Aalborg, Copenhagen and the Swedish duo of Gothenburg and Stockholm all sustained anti-Semitic slurs. And this year they came early. Over the weekend of October 23-24, tens of thousands of posters were fastened to all manner of lamp-post, pylon and bridge in anticipation of the regional and local elections on November 16. It was an open invitation to the creatures of the night, and they quickly obliged. Not the ﬁrst time David Zepernick is a Radikale councillor in Frederiksberg. His mother is half-African, and that has led to some rather daft assumptions over the years. Tagged a “Niggerlover” two years ago, more often it is assumed that Zepernick is Jewish. In fact, 20 years ago, the politician discovered he was on a hard-right list of inﬂuential Jewish Danes along with names such as journalists Adam Holm and Martin Krasnik, as well as the politician Finn Rudaizky.

Surely a thing of the past! “This is Denmark 2021! I must admit that I honestly thought Nazi-symbols were a thing of the past. I am quite surprised to see the ugly face of antiSemitism and my name resurface,” Zepernick told CPH POST. “Not least because I am not Jewish. But I guess my name ‘Zepernick’ and my relatively dark skin/ appearance could lead some people to believe otherwise.” For Zepernick, the focus ahead is his campaign. “I will not lose a single night’s sleep,” he continued. “Actually I am now even more committed to fighting for our liberal democracy, liberty and freedom of speech and against any attempts to oppress or intimidate minorities – Jewish or others! DF candidates too Ironically, the swastikas fly both ways, as several Dansk Folkeparti placards were also targeted. DF candidate Christian Bülow, who is also running for election in Frederiksberg, was subjected to Nazi-related graffiti, including swastikas, SS signs and Hitler-like moustaches. Bülow, who reported the matter to the police, had to replace eight of his posters due to the vandalism … on the first full day of campaigning. “These are people who obviously do not know me or my politics. Because I’m neither racist nor Nazi,” he told TV2. “It’s insanely annoying and I’m actually getting really upset. It is perfectly fine that you disagree about things, but I can not understand the motive behind it.”

HOW TO VOTE

AS EASY AS TIC-TAC-TOE!

Turn up at the right place on the right day and leave some crosses It’s easy to assume, as a foreigner in an overseas land, that you don’t have the vote. But in Denmark you do: both in the local and regional elections, and they’re next week! On Tuesday November 16, all you need to do is show up at the location indicated on the poll card (see factbox) you receive by mail (between 08:00 and 20:00) and cross a few boxes: for the parties of your choice in each election, and your preferred individual candidates.

viding it is four years of residency before election day). For others, such as Brits now they’ve left the EU, four years of residency is required. Certain other factors might rule you out: if you are on tolerated stay, have been expelled from Denmark by a court judgement or administrative decision, or reside in Denmark in order to serve a sentence from an international criminal court. Incidentally, if you pass the criteria to vote, you also pass it to stand for election, provided you have not had a criminal conviction or are serving a driving ban.

Theoretically you could spread yourself across four different parties. Given that political action in this country is invariably by compromise, it’s not as absurd as it sounds.

Detailed rules for voting entitlement can be found on the ministry of economic affairs and the interior’s website at valg.oim.dk

Most of us can vote So who is eligible? Well, everyone over the age of 18 who comes from a EU country, or Iceland or Norway, or the Danish Commonwealth (pro-

Handicap access Polling stations have been arranged to allow the best possible access, not least for handicapped people or those with reduced mobility. In

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polling stations where there is free POLL CARDS access, handicap polling booths have been erected. - Poll cards are sent out approximately five days before the election All the booths will be equipped with to eligible voters magnifying glasses and additional lighting for those with difficulty seeing. - There is no need to do anything before you receive the card At polling stations where it is impossible to enter with a wheel chair or - Contact your municipality if the similar, a voting room will be set information on the poll card is up in the vestibule or in a pavilion incorrect just outside the entrance. - Contact your municipality if you Other factors haven’t received your poll card two Voters unable to enter the polling days before the election station will also be given the option of voting just outside: i.e in a - Advance voting is possible. parked car. Consult your Citizen Services Center If you have a handicap or reduced - If you’ve moved home very mobility, you can change your polling recently, you might only be able to station, but the deadline for doing vote in the Regionals this has expired for this election. - When you vote, present your poll Obtain more information on the card. Also take an ID just in case election at kk.dk/valg. For matters concerning Copenhagen Municipal- - EU diplomats need to apply to ity, email them via valg@kff.kk.dk vote

COPENHAGEN A GREEN CITY IN SOCIAL BALANCE Currently, the biggest challenge in Copenhagen is that the population is steadily growing. Within the next ten years our city will grow by 60-80,000 people. They all need a place to live, and we should all be able to move easily around the city while breathing fresh air in our lungs. We need to find long-term and sustainable solutions to this challenge. My ambition for Copenhagen is that innovative thinking, sustainability, and social care are considered everywhere and in everything from new construction and traffic infrastructure to municipal procurement and in our core welfare. The green transition is key to the future of Copenhagen. Together we must transform grey concrete and black asphalt into green urban breathing space. Unfortunately, not all Copenhageners have felt included in the city’s progress and the many new opportunities that it offers. The UN’s Sustainable Development Goals state that the social services area must consider sustainability. We have ensured much progress in recent years, but there is still much more to do. We must continue to invest in everyone and ensure that Copenhagen becomes a green city in social balance. A GREEN AND SOCIAL AGENDA MEANS THAT WE MUST: • promote social investments • ensure accessible housing for all income groups • ensure better access to electric charging stations and other green refuelling • promote and attract sustainable companies • promote entrepreneurship working with sustainability • focus on innovative and sustainable solutions in our infrastructure • ensure a thriving business community that creates jobs for more Copenhageners • ensure that our capital city offers an attractive cultural scene for all citizens and visitors • create much needed green oases in the city utilizing its squares, building roofs and other urban space.

Mia Nyegaard VOTE PERSONALLY! Incumbent mayor of the Social Services Administration and leading candidate for the Danish Social Liberal Party in Copenhagen.

HOW TO VOTE

Your vote will help to determine how over half of the country’s public funds are distributed Anyone thinking of voting on Tuesday November 16 will be casting a vote to influence local government. But before you put your cross, it is worth familiarising yourself with the ways in which the decisions made by the different bodies affect your daily life and the division of powers between them. November’s elections are to choose representatives for Denmark’s five regions and 98 municipalities, the two levels of government responsible for providing the majority of the welfare services. Each year, the government negotiates a budget with the representatives of the local and regional councils – Kommunernes Landsforening and Danske Regiononer respectively. This sets the spending limits for the various services they provide. For 2021, for example, the municipalities are sharing 267.2 billion, of which the lion’s share will be spent on schools and care for the elderly. The decisions made by these elected representatives can accordingly have an enormous socio-economic impact on people’s lives. Municipalities Municipalities are Denmark’s smallest political unit and must comprise between 25-31 elected members. Copenhagen Municipality is the only exception, with 55 members. Half of all public spending is conducted by the municipalities, which are responsible for a vast majority of public services including schools, care for the elderly, sports, cultural facilities, childcare, adult education and integration programs. While the municipalities are obliged to provide certain services for the money they receive

from the state, they have enough decentralised power to choose which areas to invest particularly in. This is dictated by the political priorities of the particular council. Regions Denmark’s five regions were established in 2007 and are primarily responsible for providing healthcare, but they also have a role in areas such as specialised welfare, regional traffic, soil pollution, tourism and initiatives to provide growth in both rural and urban areas. If you live in Copenhagen, you are covered by the Capital Region Council (Region Hovedstaden), which is headquartered in Hillerød and covers north Zealand and the island of Bornholm. Each region is run by 41 elected representatives whose main focus is improving the quality of healthcare by, for example, getting cancer patients treated faster, reducing mortality rates in hospitals and extending psychiatric care. Ninety percent of a region’s budget is normally put aside for healthcare. Due to variations in geography and population, regional councils will tackle their various tasks differently. Different regional councils will also choose to structure their healthcare systems to adapt to local demands and constraints. The main political jobs carried out by the regional councils are finalising an annual budget, agreeing on an overall health plan and planning the services that hospitals and general practitioners offer. Copenhagen’s 2022 budget In September, a nearly unanimous City Hall entered into an agreement regarding the 2022 budget for Copenhagen. Only Konservative were not part of the agreement, which focused particularly on green initiatives, welfare and activity. “We prioritise public schools,

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BE AN INFLUENCER! help to the city’s most vulnerable citizens and more secure school roads, so parents can safely send their children into the morning traffic,” said Copenhagen Mayor Lars Weiss. “Furthermore, we will step up the green transition of car traffic with thousands of charging docks for electric vehicles. The agreement is an investment in our mutual future.” Greener roads More specifically, the city aims to reduce the capital’s CO2 emissions by 24,000 tonnes annually. To reach that goal, speed limits will be reduced by 10km/h along several stretches of road in the city, while 5,000 parking spots will be transformed into 4,100 charging docks for electric cars and 900 parking spots for share cars. Additionally, parking zones will be expanded so commuters won’t be able to park their cars for free on the edge of the city before hopping on a bicycle or train for the final stretch to work. Other aspects of the agreement include 200 million kroner to boosting strengthening pedagogical efforts and hiring more staff at care centres over the next four years. Sporting lift Another 250 million kroner will be invested into sports, with new

artificial turf pitches earmarked for Emdrup, Lersøparken and Kløvermarken, as well as a new swimming pool in Sydhavn. Opening hours at ice skating rinks in Ørstad and Østerbro will be expanded to cover the entire year, as will tennis courts in Ryvang and Genforeningspladsen. Funds have also been set aside to expand the municipality’s noise pollution watch pool to attain a better balance between nightlife and sleep. And somewhat related, more money will be dedicated to keeping the city centre – along with social hotspots like Havenparken, Nørrebroparken and Amager Strandpark – cleaner during the summer months. Finally, 300 million kroner has been earmarked for the recruitment of welfare workers such as nurses, pedagogues and health assistants over the next four years. Cast your vote wisely So if that sounds like baloney to you, maybe you need to give some serious consideration to who deserves your vote - clearly a party that isn’t currently well represented. It’s only by voting that we get to have a say in how our public purse is distributed and influence real change.

HOW TO VOTE IN CP H

Even if you choose an obscure party with only one candidate, it could still have some bearing on who gets elected - both onto the municipal city council and as one of the mayors This year, there are 273 candidates representing 27 parties campaigning for representation in Copenhagen Municipality this year – up from 251 candidates and 26 parties in 2017. They are vying for 55 seats on the municipal city council, which will be allocated proportionally. Pooling the votes It’s an understandable consideration that your vote might be wasted on one of the small parties.

However, should the party not acquire enough votes to land a seat, this doesn’t matter, as the parties are grouped so the votes are pooled. Sometimes though, this still isn’t enough, although your vote could theoretically have a bearing on who becomes mayor. Three handy guides Below, we have compiled a list of the 27 parties competing in Copenhagen, along with the major parties’ preferred candidates. We have also made a list of the main alliances and overview of the policies of the biggest parties.

CANDIDATE NUMBERS COPENHAGEN Socialdemokratiet - 30 (Sophie Hæstorp Andersen) Enhedslisten - 29 (Line Barfod) Venstre - 26 (Cecilia Lonning-Skovgaard*) Konservative - 26 (Jakob Næsager) SF - 24 (Sisse Marie Welling*) Radikale - 15 (Mia Nyegaard*) Dansk Folkeparti - 10 m(Finn Rudaizky) Nye Borgerlige - 10 (Niels Peder Ravn) Alternativet - 9 (Franciska Rosenkilde*) Kristendemokraterne - 8 (Jesper Housgaard) Liberal Alliance - 7 (Ole Birk Olesen) *current mayor OTHERS: Kærlighedspartiet - 19 Det kommunistiske parti - 12 Danmark for Alle - 10 Klimapartiet Momentum - 6 Veganerpartiet, Christiania-Listen, Frihedslisten, Kommunisterne - 5 Københavnerlisten - 3 Bæredygtigt Samfund, Det Demokratiske Parti - 2 Feministisk Initiativ, Rolig Revolution, Grøn Omstilling, Hampepartiet, Copenhagen - 1

ALLIANCES CENTRE LEFT: Socialdemokratiet, Radikale LEFT: Enhedslisten, SF, Christianialisten, SF, Kommunisterne, Kommunistisk Parti, Rolig Revolution, Bæredygtigt Samfund RIGHT: Venstre, Konservative, Liberal Alliance, Kristendemokraterne, Dansk Folkeparti, Venstre, Det Demokratiske Parti, Nye Borgelige GREEN: Alternativet, Veganerpartiet, Grøn Omstilling, Klimapartiet Momentum, NON-SERIOUS: Copenhagen, Kærlighedspartiet

EVERY VOTE COUNTS!

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PARTY BREAKDOWN LEFT: Socialdemokratiet More housing; more investment in education; radical green policies. Enhedslisten Tackling inequality, providing affordable housing, improving welfare; more coherence in the communities and local citizen initiatives; more climate-friendly public transport; more help for vulnerable residents. Radikale Equal opportunities for children, more daycare workers; legal cannabis pilot; more police on streets; faster business approval decisions; more help for foreign homeless; turn HC Andersen’s Boulevard into a tunnel. SF Improving air pollution, more pedestrianised streets, more nature; more affordable housing (particularly for students and the elderly); more support for kids, as well as marginalised and vulnerable residents Alternativet More spare time activities for kids; saturation of green policies in all other areas; less bureaucracy for business. RIGHT: Venstre Lower taxes for individuals and businesses; improve public transport, extend the Metro, safety on bicycle paths, build the harbour tunnel; close down underperforming schools. Konservative Better infrastructure to say ahead of the population curve, more Metro lines, a harbour tunnel; a culture of contributing; easier and cheaper to start and run a business; involvement in embassies in caring for their homeless. Liberal Alliance Ensuring the city’s services actually work; less spending on frivolous ventures and consultants; increased support of marginalised people; less leniency for hardened criminals, more research into decriminalising drug use; tax cuts for businesses. Dansk Folkeparti Tackling gang crime, making the streets safe; more cultural opportunities; listening to the private sector; deporting foreign homeless; introduction of language test for foreigners to qualify to vote. Nye Borgerlige Wants to crack down hard on immigration and completely revoke the right of all internationals to vote. Pro business and decentralisation .

HIGHE R EDUCATION

Your healthcare vote for Frederiksberg and the Regional Election

Vote for Vibeke Westh

NURSE

HOW TO VOTE IN CP H

The political committees that enable Copenhagen Municipality to function

THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN

On Tuesday 16 November, 55 members will be elected onto the municipal city council (Københavns Borgerrepræsentationen) of Copenhagen Municipality. But that is only half the fun, because of the ensuing fortnight, the parties with the most votes will be busy negotiating, sometimes bartering no doubt, to see who gets their hands on the lord mayor’s office and the six mayorships. Or put it another way: the chair and the heads of the six different political committees. All seven are full-time positions.

num period of two days in October 2004 when a member of SF held the post. Copenhagen’s current mayor is Lars Weiss, who replaced Frank Jensen last year following his resignation. Weiss, who is

not running for mayor this time, is the chair of the city council and sets the agenda for the meetings. Weiss is additionally the head of the finance committee, the seventh political committee. He,

along with six members of the city council and the six deputy mayors, decides the city’s budget and is in charge of the overall co-ordination of the city’s affairs.

Lars Weiss

Jesper Christensen

Sisse Marie Welling

Read on for an overview of how Copenhagen Municipality essentially works. The mayor Since the position was created in 1938, Copenhagen has only had Socialdemokratiet mayors – aside from an extremely brief interreg-

HOW TO VOTE IN CP H

Children and youth Jesper Christensen from Socialdemokratiet is currently in charge. The committee is responsible for daycare institutions, special education institutions, primary and lower secondary schools, after-school centres and clubs within Copenhagen. With more than 17,000 employees under their auspices, the child and youth committee is the largest municipal department in the city of Copenhagen.

sues: public health and care for the elderly. The health and care committee’s responsibility is to ensure that Copenhagen’s residents have correct and proper healthcare.

Health and care As the mayor in charge of the health and care committee, Sisse Marie Welling (SF) focuses on what she considers as the two largest is-

Social services The role of Mia Nyegaard (Radikale), the deputy mayor in charge of the social services committee, is to provide a platform where the social services committee can speak out on issues affecting the social welfare of Copenhagen. The committee provides a framework for policy development and is responsible for planning and providing a wide variety of social services.

Mia Nyegaard

LARS BERG ANDERSEN Running in: Frederiksberg Party: Liberal Alliance Age: 51 Andersen has lived in Frederiksberg for 20 years and has over two decades of experience in the private sector helping big companies with economic and tax issues.

Frederiksberg’s international community has grown considerably in recent years. How important is the international vote these days? All votes are important at this municipal election in Frederiksberg. At the election four years ago, Frederiksberg was just 173 votes away from getting a socialist mayor. That can’t happen this time. Many people from the international community are not aware that they can vote in Denmark for the municipal election and that the decisions of the politicians on the municipal board influence their daily life much more than that of the national Parliament politicians.

Employment and integration Cecilia Lonning-Skovgaard ( Venstre), the mayor in charge of the employment and integration committee, is responsible for increasing employment and promoting inclusion in Copenhagen. The employment and integration committee has an important job of helping to acclimate foreigners to the city by promoting respect for diversity and creating equal opportunities for all.

The committee’s responsibilities include roads, transportation, recreational areas, drinking water, waste, waste water management and more. This committee is important in a city that puts such a great emphasis on being environmentally friendly.

Technical and environmental Nina Hedeager Olsen (Enhedslisten) is in charge of the technical and environmental committee.

Culture and leisure The culture and leisure committee is headed by Franciska Rosenkilde (Alternativet). The committee is responsible for libraries, cultural centres, museums, national archives and over 100 sports facilities, basically anything involving culture and leisure.

Cecilia Lonning-Skovgaard

Nina Hedeager Olsen

Franciska Rosenkilde

You work assisting the private sector negotiate the complexities of Danish tax rules. Has this helped provide you with tools needed to succeed as a local politician? Yes, it gave me immense insight into the number and complexity of rules levied on companies by politicians and how it costs businesses lots of money. I think we could produce better rules if more politicians had experience and understanding about how private businesses function.

All these welfare options must still be paid via taxes and be affordable for consumers. But they can be managed by private companies. In that way, leaders and employees will have a greater sense of work satisfaction. People work harder when they can be rewarded. Additionally, good private institutions can export their setup to other countries. The public sector can’t and that’s too bad since we have lots of good welfare solutions in Denmark that other countries could benefit from. It has potential to be a massive export adventure.   Reducing taxes is a core elecment for Liberal Alliance. Is that an element that you will continue to embrace? Yes definitely. Even though Frederiksberg has one of the lowest municipal tax rates in Denmark, it is very high in an international context. Actually, Denmark has the highest tax burden in the world. Also Frederiksberg residents pay some of the highest property taxes in the country. This we can do better, much better.

Currently, the city struggles to provide enough car parking space for its citizens in a number of districts. How do you hope to address that issue? All the other parties prioritise the bicycle higher than the car. A party like Liberal Alliance is needed at Town Hall to protect families who need a car to make their everyday lives work.   One of your central election platform points is privatising more of the daycare, kindergarten, school and elderly care options in Frederiksberg. Why would that be a benefit?

How have your experiences as a local representative helped shape you over the years? Through the years I believe that I have learned that coming from a small party like Liberal Alliance you need to excel in making compromises. I am aware that I will not be able to cut taxes in half in the first year in Town Hall, but every little step in the right direction is for the better. In the eight years Liberal Alliance has You’ve been engaged in local been represented in Frederiksberg, politics for over a decade now. we have cut various taxes five times. ELECTION GUIDE NOVE MB E R 2 02 1 15

R E GIO NAL EL ECTION S

GOOD HEALTH TO THE REGIONS!

NEWS ORESUND

Since 2007 our healthcare has been presided over by five power bases, splitting the county into five parts. On November 16, our votes will decide which parties have the most influence over our hospitals, along with other selected areas

By Karakoz Ydyrys There is under a week left until the regional elections on November 16. The criteria eligibility for voting is identical to the municipality elections (see page 8), so the majority of internationals can vote. These elections, which take place once every four years, are a chance for Danish citizens and international residents to shape their regions for the better.

In 2021 alone, they collectively had 130 billion kroner in tax money at their disposal – received from the state (70 percent) and municipalities (30 percent). 205 members nationwide Denmark has three political and administrative levels: national, regional and municipal. Prior to 2007, Denmark had 13 counties and 270 municipalities, but this changed with the Danish Municipal Reform, which introduced five regions and 98 municipalities. Voters elect 41 council members for each region, so 205 council members in total. The elected members of the regional council represent their regions on a four-year term. Citizens can only vote for regional councils in the region in which they reside.

The make-up of a regional council, which always consists of 41 members, will have a significant The five regions are the Capital effect on how much money is Region (Hovedstaden), Mid Jutspent on health – the main pri- land Region (Midtjylland), South ority, accounting for 90 percent of Denmark Region (Syddanmark), the budget – environmental plan- Zealand Denmark (Sjælland), and ning, soil pollution management North Jutland Region (Nordjylland). and some matters pertaining to education. The regional houses are located 16 ELECTION GUIDE NOV EM B ER 2 021

in Hillerød, Viborg, Vejle, Sorø and Aalborg, respectively. Although the main priorities and responsibilities of all the regions are connected to health, some of the responsibilities vary depending on the region. Things to consider when voting The list of candidates is available six weeks prior to the election at the Citizen Services Center (for advance voting purposes) and at the polling stations on Election Day. The polling stations are available near the voter’s home address, which can be found via this link: kbhkort.kk.dk/spatialmap. Any voter may vote in advance at citizen service centres (up until Friday 12 November). Voting in advance is also possible in any Danish diplomatic representation abroad (embassies and consulates). In addition, advanced voting is also possible in hospitals for hospitalised voters, at care homes and sheltered housing, and in prisons for detain-

ees. For voters who are unable to turn up at the polling station on election day due to their illness or disability, voting can also take place at home upon application. If you have voted in advance, you cannot vote on election day. After the election Once the names of the 41 members of each regional council have been confirmed, the parties can begin to negotiate who will have the key positions for the coming election period. The four-year term begins on January 1. The most senior position is the chair of the regional council, but in addition, various committee items are also negotiated. Once the negotiations are concluded, the appointments are formally constituted at a constituent regional council meeting. Also at the constituent meeting, the regional council decides on the make-up of the political committees.

Vote Joanne Bywater For the continuation of free choice between public and private options for you and your family when it comes to daycare, kindergartens and schools.

Vote for Joanne Bywater on November 16th

joannebywater_la joanne.bywater joanne@la-kbh.dk

R E GIO NAL EL ECTION S

REGIONS: AN OVERVIEW Capital Region The Capital Region of Denmark has 29 municipalities in its jurisdiction, including Copenhagen, Frederiksberg and, perhaps surprisingly, Bornholm. It has over 1.8 million inhabitants and is responsible for 40 percent of the Danish Gross Domestic product. Its biggest city is Copenhagen. The responsibility area of the region includes the capital’s health system, growth and employment in innovative companies, and quality of life in the form of a green environment. Mid Jutland Region Central Denmark Region covers 19 municipalities with 1.3 million inhabitants - approximately one-fourth of the Danish population. It had a gross budget of 28.9 billion kroner in 2019. Its biggest city is Aarhus. The responsibility area of the region is health, psychiatry, and social and regional development. South Denmark Region The Region of Southern Denmark covers 22 municipalities with a population of 1.2 million people. The annual budget is approximately 25.6 billion kroner. The largest local municipality is Odense, which has almost 200,000 inhabitants. The region’s assignments are within health, social services and special education, psychiatry, and regional development. Zealand Region Region Zealand comprises 17 municipalities, including 22 cities, with a combined population of 821,000 inhabitants. The approximate budget is 18.7 billion kroner. The largest city in the region is Roskilde. The region performs two main tasks: regional development and an operational enterprise in healthcare and social aﬀairs. North Jutland Region The North Denmark Region is the smallest with just 600,000 citizens. Its biggest city is Aalborg. It is responsible for healthcare, regional development, social services and special education.

ELECTION GUIDE NOV EM B ER 2 021

INTERVIEW

VIBEKE WESTH Running in: Frederiksberg (local) and Copenhagen (regional) Party: Socialdemokratiet Age: 58 When it comes to prioritising healthcare, few candidates measure up to Vibeke Westh. The former head of the Nurses’ Organisation in Copenhagen, Westh has long championed health in the city - and abroad via UNICEF and WHO. On the ballot for the local and regional elections, she sat down with CPH Post to discuss her platform.

How important is the international vote in Frederiksberg? Residents with an international background are essential in terms of voting to help develop Frederiksberg. They are an important aspect of everyday life in Frederiksberg and their votes are paramount in deciding the direction of the city. The election impacts signiﬁcant areas, such as children/youth, elderly, schools, social and employment areas. We are also facing considerable changes to our health services and the development of local healthcare options.

Being a nurse and former head of the Danish Nurses’ Organisation in Copenhagen, how can you improve the health sector? Unfortunately, there are many challenges in the healthcare sector at the moment, and I will dedicate my efforts to finding solutions. Employees in the sector need to be prioritised and we must create a coherent health service that includes everyone. Health education needs to become attractive and a proper recruitment strategy needs to be formulated. As the healthcare workers, the patients must also be consulted when developing solutions to the challenges. The regional election is often somewhat underplayed. Why are the regional elections important? Because it relates to the health of you and your family. The Capital Region is responsible for the hospitals, psychiatry, climate and traffic. These are key areas that have an immense impact on everyday life and the pursuit of a good standard of living. So it is important to vote in the regional election.

Why should international residents vote? The international residents play an important role in regards to a diverse Frederiksberg. I’m in contact with so many who uniquely contribute to the community with their various backgrounds and cultures. Expats help provide the city with an international outlook in relation to development and diversity. So I hope they take advantage of their democratic vote and voice to help decide Frederiksberg’s path over the next four years.

You want Frederiksberg to become greener. How will you go about making that change? Frederiksberg Municipalitymust take the lead and create the framework for developing a greener and more sustainable city. We residents, the private sector and educational institutions must be part of forming solutions in regards to traﬃc, air pollution, more public transportation and greener areas across the municipality. Waste sorting and far less plastic is a key issue for me.

Why do you think you and Socialdemokratiet party should appeal to the international community? We have an international viewpoint and want to ensure good welfare and diversity in our municipality. We strive to generate communities and opportunities for everyone to ply their competencies in order to contribute to the development of Frederiksberg. We are the guarantors for good schools, quality child services and excellent elderly options, and we work hard to embrace a green and climate-friendly Frederiksberg. We also want our diverse cultures to be able to blossom and thrive.

You’ve said that you want welfare areas to be highly prioritised. Welfare must be highly prioritised as it lays the foundation to live the good life throughout our life span. Unfortunately, there are recruitment problems for some welfare areas and that needs to be addressed. Our children and youth are especially challenged in relation to mental health and this to be dealt with. One of your central election points prioritises children and youth. What plans do you have in mind? Far too many young people struggle

to reach their potential when it comes to education, job and social activity. This leads to a society that loses on the human scale and negatively affects the future development of our labour market. So we need to look at prevention, community building and a combined eﬀort should be launched as soon as possible.

for other people, cultures and solutions to improve our community. I’ve always felt enriched and grateful to have so many professional contacts and personal friends across the world. I believe that long-lasting solutions can be found through dialogue and respect. We are part of the world and have a responsibility to help and create better conditions for children and Has working in an international vulnerable people worldwide. So I’ve environment helped shape you been deeply engaged in UNICEF, WHO as a politician and individual? Europe and the intentional nurses orYes it means a lot to me to have an ganisation ICN and actively contribute international mindset and a curiosity to ‘Towards Unity For Health’. ELECTION GUIDE NOVE MB E R 2 02 1 19

IN TE R NAT IONAL FOCUS

HASSE FERROLD

There was quite some turnout at ‘Make your opinion count’, a panel discussion event held on November 2 at the University of Copenhagen about the forthcoming local and regional elections. Organised by International House Copenhagen, the informative event in the historic setting of Festsalen, attracted hundreds of internationals eager to find out about their voting rights, the various options and the candidates who best represent their views

Venstre’s Morten Løkkegaard (on the microphone) and Radikale’s Kristine Kryger were among the speakers at an election meeting in Gentofte Municipality on November 9

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IN TE R NATIONAL FOC US

THE ROMANIANS ARE COMING

How 17 Romanian candidates are making 2021 a year to remember for the country The map above shows the geographical spread of Romanian candidates running for election in 2021. The majority of the 17 are representing municipalities in Jutland, with just one in Fyn, and three in Zealand. But despite the distance between them, there are notable parallels between their policies – the result of a shared understanding of the unique integration challenges faced by internationals. Communication is key Cross-cultural communication is a major policy inﬂuence in many cases. Esbjerg’s Daniel Avram asserts “we have to learn from each

other” – a philosophy he put into practice when he established a Danish-Romanian association in 2019. Ovidiu Nechitoi in Åbenrå envisages a broader association that extends to all expats. Nechitoi worked on a dairy before moving into consulting in Kolding, and he understands the value of services like international-friendly unions and recruitment centres. His proposition for a city hub geared towards helping expats would go a long way to “making us seen”, he contends. Equal opportunity For Alina Racila, who is campaigning for votes in Tønder, West Jutland, equal opportunity is a key concern. “Your gender, age, nationality, education or disability should not stand in the way of a

good life,” she says. Much like Avram, Roxana Simion, who is standing for election in Frederiksberg, wants to “open up a conversation between Danes and foreigners”. “We have a lot to learn from each other,” she says. “I want to create a warm, welcoming phase for everyone who is new to the country.” Simion also emphasises the importance of accessible language-learning – something Racila knows only too well from her time ﬁtting language classes around her full-time job when she ﬁrst moved to Copenhagen in 2014. Romanian winner Education and accessibility was also a key policy on the table

for Narcis George Matache, a Romanian national who ran for Socialdemokratiet in the North Jutland Region elections in 2017. During his campaign, he established meetings and social events in English to explain the breakdown of local voting systems. The goal was to involve internationals in the election process – no matter what standard their Danish skills were at. In the end, he failed to win a seat by just 300 votes, but in March 2019, following a retirement, Matache was promoted to the position of ﬁrst deputy, which is a recognised political position. He is accordingly standing for election to the North Jutland Region council with an extra spring in his step.

ELECTION GUIDE NOVE MB E R 2 02 1

IN TE R NATIONAL FOC US

The eastern European country has an unprecedented number of candidates seeking election

By Mariesa Brahms

ROMANIANS SEEKING RECOGNITION

An impressive 15 Romanians are seeking election to their respective municipal councils on November 16, along with a further two in the regions.

OVIDIU NECHITOI

Of the 15 candidates, 11 are running in Jutland, and the overwhelming majority are not running in municipalities in major cities – Roxana Simion (see page 23), for example, is the only candidate in Greater Copenhagen.

DANIEL AVRAM

ALINA RACILA

CPH POST accordingly though it might be interesting to catch up with three of the Romanian candidates in the most remote of the country’s five regions, the Region of Southern Denmark. In for the long haul Alina Racila, Ovidiu Nechitoi and Daniel Avram are respectively seeking election in Tønder, Aabenraa and Esbjerg. And we discovered during our interview that they have several things in common – besides their surnames are being equally hard to pronounce. As Socialdemokratiet candidates, they more or less share the same political agenda. They all call Denmark their newfound home. And they all want to score big in the municipal elections on November 16. Leading by example In 2011, with a master’s degree in international affairs, Ovidiu assembled his belongings and took a 35-hour bus ride from Romania to Padborg.

to look for a better job suited to his qualifications.

in between work and language lessons.”

ity, as “we want to be recognised”, he contends.

He eventually found work as a consultant in Kolding, which is only a 40-minute drive from his home municipality, Rødekro.

Avram knows only too well how difficult it can be to negotiate southern Denmark using only English. As a councillor in Esbjerg, he wants to make integration in the area a tad easier.

”I want to make us seen,” concurs Ovidiu. More specifically, he’s aiming at improving the access for expats to jobs that suit their skills. “I’ve seen people with PhDs milking cows and that’s not fair,” he recalls.

When the now 32-year-old came to Denmark for his studies in 2009, he frequently found himself in difficult situations: “I still remember how it was, arriving without speaking Danish. Hardly anybody spoke English outside the university.”

Ovidiu wants to establish a union-like international house where expats can access a job-matching service.

Language key in the sticks Racila too worked for a dairy, in fact just a stone’s throw away from Rødekro, but in the municipality of Tønder directly above the border with Germany. Together with her husband, they moved to Denmark in 2014 as newlyweds. And soon, as is often the case, the ‘honeymoon’ was interrupted by some rude awakenings: “Everybody always told me how easy it is to integrate speaking English only.”

“I still recall arriving in Denmark – it was the usual February-like weather.” We all know what that means: cold and gloomy.

But soon Alina and her husband discovered that this is not always the case – which of course caused many difficulties along the way.

Ovidiu spent his first few months in his new country working on a dairy. It was an old lady, who the now 36-year-old still holds close to his heart, who encouraged him

After their daily diary duties, Alina insisted they both attend language school: “Imagine working eight to twelve hours of hard, physical work and then getting your dinner

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More visibility All three are committed to using their experience to effect change for future expats arriving in Denmark. Avram is convinced that there must be an ongoing communication between Danes and non-Danes. “We have to learn from each other,” he contends. In 2019, he established a DanishRomanian association in 2019 to encourage such communication. Should he win a seat in the upcoming elections, he wants to take it to the next level in his municipal-

Along with an information counter providing useful knowledge about how to enrol your kids or where to learn Danish, Ovidiu wants to improve the conditions for Rødekro greenhorns across the board. Family focus Alina’s agenda, which is slightly broader, reflects how young families are increasingly choosing to live in Tønder. “We must look at how we can make our municipality more family-friendly,” she contends. The priorities of the municipality need to be rethought accordingly, with more funds allocated to making Tønder a nice place to live for younger generations.

IN TE R NATIONAL FOC US

am confronted every day by how big an impact these early years have on the children of Denmark, and I am convinced that there is some room for improvement. I really want to change the group sizes and the ratio of children per pedagogue. Right now, I and two colleagues have 13 children under our care. That’s quite busy, considering we don’t only have to look after them but also actively teach them how to tie their shoes, how to eat and so on. The list is a long one, and more often I feel like I didn’t have enough time to properly commit to the children on an individual basis.

CAN ROXANA BECOME FREDERIKSBERG’S FIRST FOREIGN COUNCILLOR? Romanian nursery worker would like to effect changes for internationals: most notably in the way they are welcomed to Denmark and taught Danish

By Mariesa Brahms Ahead of the Frederiksberg Municipality elections on November 16, Roxana Simion is quite busy.

voluntarily, helping where help was needed. Over the years, she has learned what it feels like to be a foreigner in Denmark with no political representatives and she wants to address this void should she win a seat on the city council.

Nevertheless, she found some time between her errands to sit down and talk to the Copenhagen Post about her election prospects.

Was there a specific moment when you realised you wanted to run for office? I think of it more as a process. As a foreigner in Copenhagen, the small frustrations add up over time. Not being represented in local politics makes us feel less appreciated. It’s like we’re doomed to always finish in second place. It’s not necessarily anybody’s fault – but Danes can’t relate to this problem because it’s simply not theirs.

Frederiksberg resident by choice The 36-year-old was born and raised near Iași, Romania. At the local university, she started to study social work in 2003 and subsequently moved to Denmark in 2007.

In the end, I believe it was my own desire to have a spokesperson that represents not only international residents in Frederiksberg but who tackles the important topics. And since nobody else was stepping up, I decided to do it myself.

Before she started her master’s degree in education in 2016, she worked both professionally and

What do you want to change the most? As somebody working at a nursery, I

Following work at a local nursery school, the Romanian Socialdemokratiet candidate rushes on to the next item on her agenda: a meeting with fellow party members to discuss pre-election matters.

Another point I would like to change is how Danish is taught in language schools to foreigners. I am convinced a practical approach would significantly enhances the process. Simply looking at textbooks isn’t motivating. I, myself, learnt the language tackling daily tasks. I immediately found myself confronted with the ultimatum of either learning the language or talking English. Sure, I was struggling sometimes, but in

retrospect this was the most effective way of getting to know the language. Should you be elected, you’ll become the first ever foreign council member in Frederiksberg. What will you bring to the table that Danes can’t? I especially want to create a warm, welcoming phase for everyone who is new to the country. The first thing people encounter as soon as they come to Denmark is the bureaucracy. That’s not an exclusively Danish problem: Danes are in fact quite welcoming and open towards us foreigners. It’s just that moving to a different country is overwhelming itself and personal contact certainly helps. And a whole heap of missives just adds to the confusion and frustration. I believe more meet-ups and one-on-one talks will create a more sustainable feeling of being welcome from the get-go. And I also want to open up a conversation between Danes and foreigners. Because, after all, I think we have a lot to learn from each other.

A DV E RTO R I A L

IN LYNGBY: LAST, BUT NOT LEAST KERSI PORBUNDERWALLA Running in: Lyngby-Taarbæk Party: Venstre www.kersi.dk You may find Kersi at the very bottom of the candidate list for Venstre in Lyngby-Taarbæk, but that certainly isn’t a reflection of his standing in the party or community. Since arriving in Denmark from India aged just 18 back in 1966, Kersi has carved out a highly successful career for himself in the financial sector. He is managing partner at Copenhagen Compliance and a member of the Danish Lawyers & Economists Association and the British and Nordic Indian Business Chamber of Commerce. “With my qualifications and visions, I can make a difference in promoting conditions for business, integration, the green areas and reducing municipal expenses,” Kersi told CPH Post. ELECTION

Kersi Porbunderwalla

On solid ground As an immigrant and former deputy chairman of the integration council, Kersi has ample experience when it comes to the international community. And he has a clear strategy for what he wants to accomplish on behalf of residents of LyngbyTaarbæk Municipality. “Lyngby should be a city for the people - of all age groups - with good daycare options and leisure facilities. Here, we take good care of our children, elderly and corporate community.” GUIDE NOVE MB E R 2 02 1 23

N EW PARTIES

French candidate Mathieu Pouletty is seeking fellow neoliberals in Frederiksberg

By Mariesa Brahms In the upcoming municipal elections in Frederiksberg, French candidate Mathieu Pouletty will be seeking to secure a seat for Volt Denmark. Pouletty wants to introduce a more pan-European approach to the municipality of Frederiksberg, which has been under Konservative rule for the last 100 years. “We’re truly European” The party was founded in 2017 as a response to Brexit and the right-wing shift across Europe. But while it has been growing steadily in western European Countries, Volt Denmark only counts around 100 members. With its slogan “United in diversity”, its policies are mostly aimed at attracting support among young neoliberals. Election newbies This election marks the first one in which Volt will be featured on the poll. CPH POST caught up with Pouletty to find out more. Mr Pouletty, you are a candidate for a European party running for representation in Frederiksberg’s municipal council. In what way does Volt’s politics make sense on a municipal level? It does make a lot of sense because we understand ourselves as truly European. And that’s what makes us unique and sets us apart. Since we have members all over the EU, we can learn from one another and exchange ideas – you could understand it as a best practice approach. Let’s just say that we’re talking about something that our team in France had success with, and we can further investigate whether it’s applicable in Frederiksberg. Or maybe it would also make sense if you compared us to a parent company with several bases across Europe that gets frequent feedback

BIDDING TO VOLT THE FENCE AND WELCOME DENMARK INTO THE FOLD from its subsidiaries. Although it’s important to point out that we do not have a parent company! So, what do you want to change? This is the first time a French guy has stepped up to get elected in the municipal election. And that’s a bit odd because we do have a lot of international residents in Frederiksberg. This is also what motivates me, as I would like to promote getting involved as a non-Dane. I’m all in for a more participative and inclusive democracy: that’s the baseline of our political program as well. Funnily enough, there are many expats that don’t actually know about their right to vote on a municipal level. But one is automatically allowed to cast their vote at this level, as long as you’re a citizen of an EU member state, Norway or Iceland. Brits may take part if they’ve been living here since the beginning of

ELECTION GUIDE NOV EM B ER 2 021

2020 and non-EU citizens who have lived here since 2017. We need these people to bring another point of view to the table. Overall, we have many ideas about what we want to establish in Frederiksberg. For example, some sort of democracy house for example, where frequent get-togethers take place, along with cultural events. Also, a chamber of commerce that provides a space for open conversation for everybody who wants to build up a business of any sort here. Besides, we also want to create more parking spots, but outside the municipality, so a bit less central. Many Frederiksberg residents use their cars on weekends only, so during the week they just take up a lot of space. Another thing on the list is twin cities. Right now, Frederiksberg is

only twinned with cities in the Nordic countries. We’d like to broaden the international collaboration a bit. Would it be fair to say that attracting support in Denmark is more of a challenge than, say, pro-European countries? You’re probably right. Danes are proud of their heritage and rightfully so – maybe a bit protective even. But we like to be challenged. What drives Volt is that we believe that Europe needs Denmark just as Denmark needs Europe. Denmark does have a strong economy, but it is also dependent on its European partners, so becoming a bit more open makes sense after all. At the same time, it has a lot of experience to offer: for example, digitalisation and their environmental politics. As I mentioned before, the best practice approach yields benefits for both sides really.

INTERVIEW

VENSTRE: WE WANT ‘GENTOFTE GAMES’ TO INVOLVE EXPATS IN THE COMMUNITY MORTEN LØKKEGAARD

Running in: Gentofte Party: Venstre Age: 56 A European MP for over a decade now, Løkkegaard was a renowned journalist before entering the political sphere. He is currently serving on the Gentofte Municpal Council. CPH Post sat down with Løkkegaard to hear more about his plans for Gentofte and expats living there. You’ve taken the time to reach out to expats living in Gentofte. Why is that? When I was part of the local council here 4 years ago, I suddenly realised looking at the figures that we have 9,000 internationals in the community out of 75,000 so it’s about 12-13 percent of all inhabitants here. And that’s quite a lot. I guess it’s a record when looking at Danish cities and communities and such. Why has there not been any attention on this in previous years? So I started looking into this and we invited expats to contribute with ideas for the committee’s recommendations to include expats in the local community. The recommendations are that sport and food events are some of the best ways of bringing people together. We call it International Gentofte, and one of our proposals is to create ‘Gentofte Games’, a mini Olympics to involve expats in the local community. We hope to have the first “Gentofte Games” in 2022. What can you do to involve the international community as an asset to the municipality? The starting point for most political decisions is the environment itself and the people working within it - and here we are talking about the expats themselves and their local communities. So it all starts with the expats themselves. What we can do as a community, as a municipality, is to make way for a structure so people have easier access to clubs, facilities and to the political sphere so that they feel engaged and heard. The main purpose is to put focus on this and to work with integration. It’s about sport, food, what

brings people together, how we can integrate the community. You’ve stated that you want Gentofte to become the most sustainable municipality in Denmark. Can internationals contribute to achieving that lofty goal? Many expats are very highly educated, have resources and knowledge about matters pertaining to climate and sustainability. So if you view these 9,000 people as a resource and have a political goal of being the most climate-friendly municipality in Denmark, I think there is a very good connection. There is a direct link between the expat community, our resources and political goals ... like the climate. We did some research about what matters in this community and climate emerged as the number one issue - for people living for many years and the newcomers. So we realised that we have the potential of actually being the greenest municipality in Denmark. We can do it. Not just talk about it, but actually do it. So that’s how we ended up ushering in these concrete proposals relating to electric cars, the required infrastructure, and renovating old buildings to make them more sustainable. You’ve been a Member of the European Parliament in Brussels for over 10 years now. Has living abroad helped shape you as a politician? It’s been absolutely key to my political work. I ran for the European Parliament elections in 2009 and that was kind of the turning point for me because I realised that my political interest was much better suited to European politics. So that’s where it started. Many people ask me why I spend time in local politics when I’m also a European MP in Brussels. Well, I’ve been living here for 20 years now and I realised that it was much more fun to be very local and at the same time very much abroad. Brexit is a subject of great interest to many of our readers. How’ve you experienced the movement? It’s a tragedy. I’ve thought a lot about how to describe it and I simply can’t find a better word. It’s like watching a car accident in slow motion and not being able to do anything to stop it. I

Why is it time for a change? Konservative have been running the show out here for almost 100 years. In a row. And that’s not something you change overnight. It is a tradition. It’s in the blood coursing through people’s veins, it’s generations of families voting Konservative going so far back that they can’t even remember. So can you change that? Yes you can, but it will take time and you need to have a very clear vision Up until now, Konservative have of what the alternative is. But I think we had an iron grip on Gentofte. have a chance to change things now. ELECTION GUIDE NOVE MB E R 2 02 1 25 work in Brussels and knew how much this would influence the local level and change the daily life of people living abroad. I have been in contact with so many Brits living in Denmark who are very troubled at what the future holds. Can I stay here? How will it impact my kids? What about education? All these things. You’d have to be made of stone for it not to affect you somehow.

N EW PARTIES

As far as Bæredygtigt samfund is concerned, everyone is on the same level. After all, nobody is immune to the threat of climate change

By Marius Rolland In the heart of Valby’s Culture House, the community group Bæredygtigt samfund (sustainable society) is flourishing. Between workshops and vegetable gardens, David Hirst, Kirstine Desian and Hannah Russell are drawing up their program for their participation in the November municipal elections. A flow of people Beyond their slogan, the party feels in line with values similar to Alternativet or the Enhedslisten red-green alliance of communists, socialists and workers. The party is not a fixed group, it’s a hub: a constant flow of helping people. Its initiators are inspired by ancient Greek direct democracy agoras. They want total transparency by applying without filters what those after them will want. On the same level They consider themselves as intermediaries who seek horizontal debate, rather than vertical representation. “Everybody on the same level” is their motto. They insist that they do not want to be part of an overly imposing hierarchy that leaves those it is supposed to represent. CPH POST recently caught up with them to find out more. Inspiring life model Bæredygtigt samfund’s main vision of economy and society, explains Kirstine Desian, 54, consists of daily sharing on a small scale to facilitate each other’s life. Single-use mass production must give way to solidarity-based consumption that gives several lives to what everyone is able to lend. “This is the kind of life model I would like to inspire everyone to follow. Everyone should now be

convinced of it. We have to change things, we can’t go on,” contends Desian, who comes from the west coast of Denmark.

CATCHING UP WITH THE NEW GREEN PARTY ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL

“But it’s difficult to find alternatives. We have to rely on initiatives such as the total recycling of raw materials, plastics, textiles. We need to stop massive shopping, over-consumption that leads to waste. It is a complex and slow revolution in thinking and acting that is needed, but through simple things. We have a very good life without using a lot.” Not dissimilar to Christiania A way of life that sometimes looks like Christiania. For Kirstine and fellow member David Hirst, the freetown is “more or less” a model in the community aspect, but it is not a method to develop everywhere in Copenhagen, because it is a marginal and minority way of life, which not everyone shares. “We believe that the municipality lacks representation of the large international community in Copenhagen and want to have this perspective better expressed,” she concludes. Reconnecting communities The members headquarters are located in a community surplus food club. “We want to develop more spaces around the city that encourage socialising in ways not driven by consumerism, with a low environmental impact. There are already some in Sydhavn, Vesterbro, Vanløse, but the objective is to establish those supply points in each neighbourhood,” explains David Hirst, 35, who comes from the UK. “I feel like communities and initiatives like that are disconnected - there is no umbrella that brings them all together. The municipality should help to develop themselves, make them known and attractive such as reference structures. There is also a need to make them free to undertake to enable them to be autonomous in the long term”.

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Biggest challenge ahead Their most challenging point for the elections is the Lynetteholm artificial island, a real estate project to “protect the port of Copenhagen from rising sea levels, and to meet housing needs for 35,000 people”. According to Kirstin, “this is hypocrisy, because housing prices are expected to be expensive and accessible only to the rich, and it represents a disruption to the local ecosystem due to the colossal location and the likely pollution that will be generated in the course of construction and in the daily life of the island”. Above all, it shouldn’t be an investment priority, she contends, it should be only dedicated to living and provide for a primary need. “For 2025, the absolute goal is to stop talking about being a green city but just being truly a green city. It just needs to be an actual green focus and not just on the surface. There is no point in installing photovoltaic panels on roofs if the state makes it easier to buy cars. Some things are already done, but not completely and it’s not real green

policies most of it. So we can push them in the right direction.” Bæredygtigt samfund believes the municipality is moving too slowly, and it is with the individual mobilisation of each person that things can change. Tough on transport “The original part that we can bring through the municipality is the experience of humanity projects, suggests Hannah Russell, 27, who has been living in the capital region for five years now. “And a little bit more about systemic change” adds David. “Prevent or restrict?” According to him, both are important. Their plans include closing small streets to cars, encouraging the production of smaller and less polluting cars, banning trucks in the city, focusing even more on the use of bicycles and making transport free. “Most of our signatures come from Norrebro. That’s where the people who share our views are.”

INTERVIEW

Running in: Copenhagen Party: Radikale Age: 47 Copenhagen’s mayor for social issues over the past four years, Nyegaard has worked in in London, Brussels, Malmö and is the deputy chairman of the board in Copenhagen Capacity and is the lead candidate for Radikale party in the city. CPH Post caught up with her ahead of the election.

How do you think the role of the international resident in Copenhagen has changed and why should they vote? Copenhagen has become a more international city that strives to attract companies and talent from abroad. It has become easier to come to Copenhagen and interact in everyday life – getting your kids into schools and daycare etc. So voting is important, since it gives international residents a chance to have a say over their lives and how their taxes are spent. Also, I’m a bit old fashioned and I believe that it is one’s duty to vote to keep our democracy thriving. Utilising your vote is not only important but also your way of having a say when it comes to your everyday life.

You are Copenhagen’s mayor for social issues following a highly successful election in 2017. What are some of the initiatives that you are most proud to have ushered in during your tenure at City Hall? I’m so proud that we as a party have taken responsibility for Copenhagen by participating in budget negotiations every year for the last four years. When it comes to the social administration, I’m proud that we have secured more money being prioritised in areas that have been structurally under budgeted for years. We have stopped the

One of your key election points is sustainability and the green transition. Can you tell us a little bit about what your plans are with that in the coming four years? The green transition is paramount for our future city. We need to think sustainability in everything we do by looking into green procurement specifications. We should look into a carbon tax, support green mobility and lots more. Another central aspect of your election platform is infrastructure. Considering that Copenhagen continues to grow in population, what are some of the solutions that could alleviate the challenges the city is facing? We would like to see the city connected through even more metro or Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) and better bike infrastructure to encourage more people to use public transport and bicycles instead of cars. We would like to see road pricing used as a tool to regulate traffic, however that is for Parliament to decide. MICHELLE BERG

Why do you think you would appeal to the international community? I have been an expat myself and know how hard it can be to get your life up and running in new surroundings. Hence, I strive to support the international agendas in our city – I’m on the board of Copenhagen Capacity and work to make Copenhagen even more international than it is today.

bleeding and started investing in some of the most marginalised people. Copenhagen may be one of the most liveable cities in the world, but with liveability comes responsibility. There is still much to be done, but we are on the right track.

MICHELLE BERG

MIA NYEGAARD

You have a long track record of working to improve conditions for the vulnerable and less fortunate. Is that an area you will continue to focus on? Yes I always have, and will continue to, fight for those who have the least. I believe that a society should be judged on how it treats its most vulnerable. Also, I don’t believe we will have climate justice without social justice and I want Copenhagen to be a green city in social balance Has your background helped prepare/help you for your role as a local politician? When I studied I worked four years as a social worker in a housing facility for people with mental and physical disabilities and I think that the job has prepared me and helped me more than any other job I’ve held. Also having been the managing director of a chocolate factory has helped

me to know that I need to focus on operation/execution and budget to succeed in any organisation.

And what drew me to Radikale – the social-liberal rights-based aspect and international outlook of the party. I like that my party is a cenYou’ve been a member of Radi- tre/centre left party because I believe kale for over two decades. What that a country and a city should be initially drew you to local poli- governed by bridging parties to find tics and Radikale as a party? the middle ground instead of letting To me local politics is where you the extreme left- or right-wing parties get to influence the everyday life of pull society too much to one side of people and that to me is important. the political spectrum. ELECTION GUIDE NOVE MB E R 2 02 1 27

IN TE R NAT IONAL FOCUS

A TAXING PROCESS, FOR SURE

Internationals feel comfortable about voting: particularly if they are contributing to society

By Marius Rolland The sentiment “no taxation without representation” has been popping up a fair bit in the build-up to the American War of Independence … sorry, local and regional elections on November 16.

have the right to vote. Call this a declaration! After all, that was the argument of the 13 American states pressing for independence from the British Empire in the 1770s. They were sick of paying over the pond and not getting a say in how the pounds were spent.

David Zepernick, a Radikale councillor in Frederiksberg who passionately wants more foreigners to exercise their right to vote, is fond of the sentiment.

And in Denmark too – not that they’re planning a revolution – internationals would appear to agree that they should be entitled to vote as tax-payers, providing they can make a well-informed decision.

And so were pretty much half of the internationals we caught up with this past week on the streets of Copenhagen.

So, the same argument also applies to national elections, which foreigners are barred from voting in.

Not all of them are intending to vote – particularly the ones who have only been here a matter of weeks or months.

Well, Rome wasn’t built in a day, and we should feel privileged that we’ve enjoyed this right since 1980.

But there seemed to be genuine consensus that tax-payers should

Will full enfranchisement follow? Watch this space!

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ALEXANDRE COLLIER Nationality: French Age: 39

I am a permanent resident from an EU member state. Will you vote? With pleasure. Why do you want to vote? It is like a gift from the Danes. I have to honour it, it is very touching. What key issues will influence your vote? I am very sensitive to ecology, so of course that will be the most important issue.

Are you eligible to vote? I just searched on the internet and I discovered that I have the right to vote. It’s really a good thing to let all citizens, even foreigners, choose their representative. It’s exemplary, and not like in Paris. What gives you the legal right?

How do you find out about politics in Denmark? The Local and now I find out about CPH POST. Why is it important for foreigners to vote? The Danes trust foreigners by giving them the right to vote. It is so benevolent that it is important to respect this trust. What can they bring to the vote? Perhaps they can bring a more

INTERVIEW

KRISTINE KRYGER Running in: Gentofte (local) and Copenhagen (regional) Party: Radikale Age: 42 Thanks to life spent studying and working abroad, Kristine Kryger is no stranger to international communities. Aside from running locally in Gentofte, she is also on the ballot for the regional election, so the good news is that everyone can vote for her. CPH Post had a chat with her regarding her goals for the city ... and the capital region.

Copenhagen’s international community has grown considerably in recent years. How important is the international vote these days? I am acutely aware of how the international community contributes to Denmark, culturally and financially. I am running for election both in the regional election in the capital region and the local election in Gentofte and the international community in Gentofte alone consists of more than 9,000 internationals. It is important to reach out to the international community as I believe we could benefit so much more from sharing knowledge and interacting more across nationalities. We are so blessed to have such wonderful international schools in Gentofte. Why do you think you would appeal to the international community? My partner is Kenyan, my children are bi-cultural and I’ve enjoyed a lot of time in international communities. I have lived, studied and worked abroad, so I have firsthand knowledge in regards to the challenges faced when settling in a new country. Internationals bring so many brilliant ideas to the table and there is much potential in regards to incorporating international residents into decision making at the local and regional level. That link-up is something I eagerly want to help facilitate. Sustainability and the green transition is among the key issues for Radikale Party. How is that reflected in your election platform?

Local politics play a huge part in the green transition at the municipal and regional levels. There is much we can do, but we can accomplish so much more if we change the legislation relating to how suppliers are allowed to obtain loans to finance the green transition. I am pushing hard to influence the decision makers at the national level. The green transition is top priority for me and one of the key reasons I find my political work meaningful. I want to ensure that Gentofte Municipality works ambitiously towards the UN Global Goals. The municipality must take sustainability into account in all of its actions. I therefore want to incorporate a set of binding guidelines which, among other things, will ensure that CO2 reduction, biodiversity and conservation of the municipality’s green areas are always considered in the municipal council decisions. You attended university in the UK. Has living abroad helped shape you as an individual and local politician? I chose to attend the University of Essex, which at the time was the most international university in England. My four years there really opened my eyes to the value of international residents and I believe that the international community can bring so much to our local communities in Denmark. You’ve been the deputy chairman of the Infrastructure Committee in Gentofte for some time now. What would you like to see in terms of future development in the municipality? I want to promote cycling, electric cars and public transport. The increasing traffic in our community makes it unsafe for children and the elderly to move around. Therefore, I will work to lower the speed limits and reduce noise pollution from roads. I believe we should implement the same speed restrictions they have in Barcelona, Berlin and Brussels. A high percentage of the CO2 reduction must come from greener transportation. I have also worked actively to develop the city’s space and create a framework for communities. The city also needs to be peaceful areas in the city.

You’re also running in the re- in research and healthcare. And as gional elections, giving people is the case at the local level in Genacross the capital region the tofte, sustainability also remains opportunity to vote for you. an essential aspect of my regional What are your visions for the strategy. It is critical for Copenhagen capital? to work ambitiously to meet the UN’s One of my central aims for the capi- 17 Global Goals by taking responsital relates to taking more advantage bility for combating climate change of innovation by embracing the and ensuring sustainable developlatest technologies, creating part- ment, consumption and production nerships and improving conditions patterns. ELECTION GUIDE NOVE MB E R 2 02 1 29

IN TE R NAT IONAL FOCUS

global view of the issues and put it into perspective. Would you like to see more foreigners represented? I’m not sure it’s important - maybe for foreigners with a very different culture for a better understanding, integration and cohabitation. To what extent do you think candidates engage with foreigners? I haven’t looked into this yet as I just found out I could vote. (I have only been here for three months.) What do you think about some right-wing parties saying that foreigners should be excluded from voting? This would be a step backwards, so it is not constructive at all.

FABIAN SOKOLOWSKI Nationality: German Age: 24

How did you find out that you have the right to vote? I just read it on Facebook, because there were people talking about it. How could I vote, I thought, when I am only staying in Copenhagen?And my own situation is that I’ve been living in Copenhagen now for one month, and I will stay here for a whole year. I’m studying free arts at the Royal Academy on an exchange from Germany. Do you feel comfortable about voting? Actually, no. I don’t plan on voting. I’m just a guest in this country. And

I don’t know that much about the political situation. And so therefore, I felt quite strange that I could vote. Sure, from the perspective of the EU, it might affect me, and also regarding international relations, but I still have a feeling that the people here know better than myself, so they should be the ones to vote. How do you find out about politics? I don’t really. I read the news, for example, about the kinds of islands they want to build to get a broad perspective, but not especially Danish politics..

eigners. But it’s far more complex than that, so that’s a sad position to take. It’s happening in a lot of countries right now, mostly as a result of the pandemic. I would definitely be against excluding foreigners.

BIRTA GUNNARSDOTTIR Nationality: Iceland Age: 23

Do you think that it is important for foreigners to take an interest? Obviously, I think they should educate themselves about the situation. I think they can bring a different perspective that is not so set in stone. So, do you think some of them should vote. Like those who work here who want a say in how their tax is spent? Yes, that’s true. Besides that, I don’t really know how many elections take place here. If it’s once a year, every two years or four years. If I moved here a few months ago, then I would like the opportunity to vote. Would you like to see more foreigners represented? All foreigners who have a residency here should be allowed to vote. It’s quite good to get them to vote, I think there should be campaigns to encourage them. If you were voting, what would be the key issues? Housing and housing prices. The economy and climate change. Not too right-wing. Pro human rights, not too radical. What do you think about some right-wing parties saying that foreigners should be excluded from voting? That sounds like a statement from a party that wants to protect its country from the burden of for-

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If you were voting, what would the key issues be? Regarding the environment. In Iceland, they don’t really focus enough on saving the planet. What do you think about some right-wing parties saying that foreigners should be excluded from voting? I get their point if they’re talking about people like me. I’m not staying for too long. I mean, I wouldn’t be hurt if I wasn’t allowed to vote. But I think that everyone’s opinion matters when it comes to politics. So I don’t support that. Everyone should be able to vote.

MANUEL FERNANDEZ Nationality: Portuguese Age: 46

Would you feel comfortable voting? I wouldn’t vote. I’m not informed enough. So I’m not gonna just vote for anything. If I had the time to do some research, to learn more about it, I would. Do you already know a little bit about politics in Denmark? Not really.I haven’t been here that long. I’m just two weeks into a 10-month stay. Do you think it is important for foreigners to vote? I think everyone’s opinion counts. It’s logical. It helps integration as well. But if you haven’t been here that long, maybe it’s better not to. Really, it surprises me that I can vote. Would you like to see more foreign representatives in local government? Yeah, I do. I’ve noticed that there are people here from all over the world, even at the school I’m going to. And I feel like we are welcome here.

Do you feel comfortable voting? Yes, because I live here. It’s only been three months, but I think I have the right to decide my future. What do you think about politics in Denmark? I think there is too much antiimmigration sentiment. And I disagree with that. Is it important for you that foreigners can vote. What can they bring to the voting process? If foreigners are working here, paying taxes here like the Danes, paying the same prices in the supermarket, on the Metro, living similar lives, why don’t we have the same rights to vote? I think

INTERVIEW

KARINA BERGMANN Standing for election: City of Copenhagen Party: The Conservative People’s Party (in Danish Det Konservative Folkeparti) Profession: Communications Consultant Education: Master in Cross-Cultural Studies, University of Copenhagen, 2014 Civil status: Married to Jakob Tørring. Child: Eva Bergmann-Tørring (2020) Age: 36 Already a member of the City Council of Copenhagen, Karina Bergmann hopes to get re-elected on November 16th. After becoming a mother, family and family values have become central to her as a politician. She spoke to CPH POST a late sunny afternoon about her campaign ‘For Copenhagen, Culture and the Family’. Why should international residents vote for the local election? One should always use the opportunity to take part in the representative democracy. Vote! Many people in this world are not as privileged. But then again, I have been in politics for more than ten years, so that is easy for me to say, but I do like to encourage people. Not only to vote, but to take part in the local community. Local politics affects childcare services, kindergartens, public schools and playgrounds. All in all, all the things that make up daily family life. If you have trouble finding a parking lot nearby, it is due to a decision made by local left-wing politicians. As a conservative, these decisions go against what we wish for families. Why do you think you would appeal to the international community? I, myself, have a foreign background being adopted from South Korea. Nonetheless, I call Copenhagen my home. Because home is where the heart is. Not being ethnically Danish, I focus on values - not skin color. And conservative values are important to great many people around the world. Religion, for instance, is something we share, not necessarily the same kind, but being part of a religious community. I, myself, is a Christian and it is important for me that my daughter also has a Christian upbringing. I was recently invited to the Great Synagogue

by The Jewish Community in Denmark. And as a newly elected member of the Vesterbro Parish Council, I hope to bridge the two communities and many more. Also, my local church, Elijah’s Church, located at Vesterbro Torv, hosts monthly services for expats in English. So come and join us. Lastly, a fun fact being that the church is designed by Martin Nyrop, who is also the architect behind Copenhagen City Hall. One of the key points of your election platform is family life. What do you think the city needs to do in order to improve on that topic? In Denmark some children start childcare at the age of eight months contrary to what the family wants. This I would like to change for the better. In Copenhagen, families can apply for a subsidy for “home care” if they choose to take care of their child themselves at home. This subsidy I wish to increase. This is something we conservatives wish to do in all of Denmark. Also flexible childcare service is another solution for parents to spend more time with their children. We should be given the option to choose between either an early morning or late afternoon childcare service and only pay for half a day instead of a whole day. The Municipality of Ballerup offers flexible childcare service - and so should Copenhagen. The Conservative Party is known for being a strong supporter of business and the private sector. How are you going to approach that should you be re-elected? As the capital of Denmark, Copenhagen needs to be a lot more private sector friendly. Lower taxes, less regulation and documentation. The public sector in Copenhagen is huge - often at the expense of private sector jobs and the family. I want to make way for entrepreneurship, small businesses and big ideas. The COVID-19 pandemic has deeply affected a number of sectors in the city, including tourism and the restaurant industry. What does the city need to do to address this? Danes are extremely proud of the accomplishments of Noma, Geranium and other gourmet restaurants in Copenhagen. Tourists come here to experience new nordic cuisine and much more. However the restaurant business is not given the best terms, in fact it is heavy regulated. We conservatives wish

to change that. This is just one way to create more jobs in the private sector.

its permanent collection of Danish Golden Age Painters, this is a must-see. Also the new Museum of Copenhagen Culture life in Copenhagen is also in Stormgade is worth a visit. Living at among your central priorities. How Vesterbro, I am lucky to have City Hall, does your election platform seek Tivoli, The Meat Packing District, music to improve culture in the city? venues such as Vega and Pumpehuset, Copenhagen has an important history the art cinema Vester Vov Vov and lots and historic landscape, these we must of theatres within walking distance. preserve. The same goes for our cul- What we lack, however, are sports tural legacy such as castles, churches, facilities. A priority for me is harbour cultural institutions, parks and the baths, inside and outside swimming old inner city harbour. Personally, I facilities, football fields and indoor am very fond of our art institutions. facilities for children to explore dancThe National Gallery of Denmark with ing, gymnastics etc. ELECTION GUIDE NOVE MB E R 2 02 1 31

IN TE R NAT IONAL FOCUS

our participation is a sign of integration. What key issues will you probably be influenced by? Same Democracy. Same rights. Equality. What do you think about some right-wing parties saying that foreigners should be excluded from voting? It’s double standards. When these parties see foreigners contributing by cleaning their streets, making beds in the hotels or working in construction, it’s okay. But if they want to vote ... then it’s suddenly a problem!

ISAAC TAREK Nationality: French Age: 32

Do you have the right to vote? Yes, I have the right to vote because I’m a resident, a European citizen and am over the age of 18. I’ve been living in Denmark for two years and try every day to be more informed about it, although I’m more interested in the French elections because it’s the country where I’m from. I think it’s quite natural. Will you be voting? Why do you want to vote? Or why not ? Even though I’ve lived there for two years, I don’t think I have enough perspective about the city to be sure what to vote for. Even if there is a wide range of candidates. And,

to be honest, Denmark seems so nice and peaceful, with few burning problems to resolve, beyond the visual pollution imposed by the posters of the candidates on the streets! Anyhow, I hope to get enough information to make the best choice according to my convictions. How do you find out about politics in Denmark? How much do you talk about Danish politics in your daily life? I’m really interested in politics so I speak about it with friends, Danish or not, when I have the opportunity. It’s interesting to have diverse points of view concerning Danish political decisions, for example immigration. I’m a foreigner but I come from the European Union. I know things are not so easy for foreigners coming from the Middle East or Africa, for example. Do you already know what your voting intentions are? And what key issues will influence your vote? No, not yet. Regarding key issues ... construction projects, education, social affairs, help for small and medium-sized companies. How do you source information about DK politics? Internet. I read and listen to DR and watch videos on YouTube. It helps me to improve my Danish

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language. I sometimes read the municipality magazine and The Copenhagen Post is also a good source of information concerning Denmark. Also, I try to get more information about the candidates/ political parties from their websites.

MARTIN O’ROURKE Nationality: Irish Age: 54

Why is it important for foreigners to vote? To vote means participating in the life of the city. For foreigners, it’s another way to get involved. They bring fresh ideas and opinions to the political debate. But, of course, there are other ways of getting involved: organisations, projects, volunteer work etc ... Would you like to see more foreigners represented? I would like to see more foreigners represented if they want to be represented. What do you think about some right-wing parties saying that foreigners should be excluded from voting? When a foreigner works and pays taxes in Denmark, he can’t be excluded from electoral events. Otherwise, it makes no sense. Either you participate fully in the life of the city, or not at all. They wouldn’t exclude foreigners from the payment of taxes, would they?

Do you have the right to vote? Yes What gives you the legal right to vote? EU member and residence in Denmark Do you feel that your vote is legitimate? In a legal sense, yes. In an informed sense, not particularly Will you be voting? Perhaps if I can get my head around the issues. I come at this from the perspective of a nonDane who has a Chinese wife so always inherently lean towards

INTERVIEW

TIRELESSLY FIGHTING CORRUPTION, MAKING THE VOICES OF INTERNATIONALS HEARD

Radikale candidate David Munis Zepernick can reflect on four years well spent on the council of Frederiksberg Municipality, and now he wants four more!

By Marius Rolland Frederiksberg councillor David Munis Zepernick is standing for re-election following a successful campaign in 2017. The issues close to the Radikale Venstre politician’s heart reflect his heritage (through his mother he is a quarter African), his volunteer work (chiefly as the chair of the Safe and Alive Foundation, an organisation working to assist victims of trafficking) and sense of outrage. From tax avoidance to tabloid hypocrisy, he has built up a reputation for tackling corruption – in his municipality and further afield. As far as Zepernick is concerned, internationals are a huge asset to the capital, and he works tirelessly to make their voices heard. Additionally, he is his party’s spokesperson for all municipal matter relating to schooling, housing and social affairs. It seems that one of the main pillars of Radikale’s communication revolves around the involvement of international citizens and the need to involve them in the voting process. I certainly want to encourage more foreigners to exercise their right to vote in the local and regional elections. It’s a way of saying “Welcome, I acknowledge that you’re here, and I would like you to contribute to our community, political process, and local and regional democracy.” I like to call it political integration. We tend to focus on their obligations, when it should be about their rights. We have to encourage EU citizens to vote more by making them feel invited. In an article published on the FrederiksbergLiv website, you pointed out how eligible ‘indvandrer’ [immigrants and their descendants]

vote more in parliamentary elections than in municipal elections. How big a problem is that? Yes, less than half vote. And the same with their descendants. If they are not tapping into local democracy, I think it’s like the canary in the coal mine. In the last general election we tried to reach out to non-western immigrants. We think it’s a matter of principle. And there is an element of self fulfilling prophecy here: if you make people feel welcome, they will respond positively. But we were accused of vote fishing. If we are not supposed to do it as a political party, who should do it ? Each party should actually embrace this idea. But I’m not naive. Some parties are very reluctant to do so because for tactical reasons, it will probably not benefit them in the election. So you could call it jealousy: that definitely plays a part. It’s not progressive at all, and it’s not “pro-Europe”. Some politicians in Denmark are very eager to fuel that conflict between Danes and foreigners. Why does Denmark allow its foreign citizens to vote in municipal and regional elections. Many European countries don’t? You work here. You pay taxes here. A substantial amount is actually spent by the municipalities. So you should also be able to have a say in the political discussion about how your money is spent on a local scale. It falls in line with the old saying from the American Revolution: “No taxation without representation”. And the number of people, the turnout, is an indication of whether or not you have a well functioning democracy. I would actually be willing to go a bit further and give EU citizens the right to vote in national elections. What are your predictions for this election? Konservative has held power in Frederiksberg for 112 years: it’s the jewel in their crown. But four years ago we only missed out by 168 votes. If we succeed this time, we want to change schooling and housing. Substantially more needs to be invested. What about the employment sector? What job stability do you

expect to bring? Compared to other municipaliThat’s a good question, and in my ties, you’ve been successful at professional work as Head of Business getting immigrants into eduDevelopment with the Danish-Swedish cation and the workplace. So Life Science Cluster Organization, Medi- what’s next? con Valley Alliance, I work with that issue Yes, we’ve been quite successful, and as well. I believe we need to persuade some of the right-wing parties seem international students to stay: invest content at that. But I think we should in making them stay for a long term. lift the burden of other municipalities Often, it’s not merely an individual mat- that have difficulties, especially in the ter, but a family decision, so we need west of Copenhagen, and exercise to target a whole group. After the pan- some solidarity. Frederiksberg is first demic, a new reality has kicked in. We and foremost an integrated part of cannot find the people that we need to the capital region. That’s how I envikeep the engine running. We cannot sus- sion the political landscape. tain the current model with only Danes. Industry is raising its voice, and finally So what next for the capital reother parties are starting to support gion? this policy. If we want to preserve and I hope we will continue to develop develop the welfare state as we know with an international, pro-European it, extra hands are a precondition. We open-minded mindset and finally cast recently proposed in Frederiksberg that off the conservative, backward-lookwe should reach out and talk to Afghan ing, traditional thinking that we’re still refugees, because we have a special struggling with. responsibility there. ELECTION GUIDE NOVE MB E R 2 02 1 33

IN TE R NAT IONAL FOCUS

pro-immigration, left-leaning parties. Why do you want to vote? I do want to vote, but as of yet know nothing about the process logistically. How do you find out about politics in Denmark? A bit of online research and The Copenhagen Post. Why is it important for foreigners to vote? If there are parties that explicitly or implicitly act against the interests of whichever part of the world you come from, it is important to give support to those more sympathetic to your needs and requirements. That can range from everyday issues to much more life changing areas like permanent residence etc ... Even if you don’t believe your vote matters, the principle of voting is extremely important if you believe inherently in democracy. Would you like to see more foreigners represented? Not sure. They could literally be represented by foreigners or by Danes sympathetic to their interests. I think the latter is fine. There are plenty of inclusive Danes among the populace.

HRAFNKELL BIRGISSON Nationality: Icelandic Age: 52

How do you find out about politics in Denmark? I follow the news and the debate through different media.

To what extent do you think that candidates engage with foreigners? Hard to say, but from my experience, very little. What do you think about some right-wing parties saying that foreigners should be excluded from voting? This is the kind of slide into extremism that every non-Dane should be wary of and eager to counter. It’s populist nonsense designed to draw votes from the disaffected on the margins of society by scapegoating foreigners and particularly those of a non-EU origin when the answers may well be closer to home. Fortunately, I believe the vast majority of Danes also see through this kind of rhetoric.

portunity to influence politics and the future quality of life in their local community.

Do you have the right to vote? Do you feel like a legitimate voter ? As a resident here for the last 13 years and a father of two children in school in Denmark, I feel like a legitimate voter, despite being a struggling low income taxpayer. Will you be voting? I will vote. I think everyone should do and use their rights and op-

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Why is it important for foreigners to vote? What can they bring to the municipality? I think foreigners tend to underestimate their value as legitimate voters, often because they feel that their residency status is vulnerable and they may also lack confidence with the evaluation of the candidates. Foreigners add to a more holistic approach, evaluation and development of the community so it’s all about avoiding stagnation I guess. Would you like to see more foreigners represented? To what extent do you think that candidates engage with foreigners? Yes. I would definitely like to see more candidates more clearly representing the increasing diverse minority of foreigners living in Denmark. I wonder if too many

of the current candidates might be a bit disconnected from most foreigners. But, of course, some foreigners could do better at connecting themselves. Although I am sure that some potential voters are too busy with their everyday struggle to find out who this distant, seemingly sympathetic, smiling portrait stands for, who they have repeatedly been cycling past. Do you already know what your voting intentions are? And what key issues will influence your vote? I do have an idea for the future life in this city and I will likely pick candidates that appeal to me and my vision. What do you think about some right-wing parties saying that foreigners should be excluded from voting? It is ridiculous to claim the exclusion of such an essential part of the society if it is really their intention. But I also think that if a foreigner isn’t interested in integration and continuity, it is questionable if they should be voting.

POSTERS

CLICK PICKS: HOW TO STAND OUT ‘Tis the season of regional elections and therefore also of being visually assaulted from all sides by election posters. From midday on the fourth Saturday before election day until 8 days after the vote, get ready to judge a lot of books by their covers.

By Lena Hunter According to a 2021 study in political science journal Acta Politica entitled ‘Do campaign posters trigger voting based on looks?’, a “plethora of studies now suggests that candidates who look more attractive, competent, or otherwise appealing win more votes”. That may be old news, but authors Michael Herrmann and Susumu Shikano found correlations in German election data that suggested that inundating voters with candidate posters, as in elections in Germany and Denmark, increased

the incidence of “voting based on looks”. So policies and promises aside, candidates hoping to win votes in the regionals would do well to leverage our basic instincts and look sharp on their campaign posters. Cream of the crop But how exactly do you do that? Sure, you can put on a shirt and tie and get a professional photographer, but isn’t everyone doing the same? This isn’t just about a short back and sides – this is about standing head and shoulders above the competition. You want to be the Coca-Cola, Nike or Apple of personal branding … and that means taking risks. That’s what these 12 candidates, who have all gone above and beyond to grab their constituents’ attention, will probably tell you, anyway.

Allon Hein Sørensen; Alternative in Furesø

HP Beck; Liberal Alliance in Aalborg

“I try to make my opinion known as a blogger and debater in the digital universe, especially on social media,” explains special operative ‘Agent 00 Sørensen’, who is a software specialist by day. He is rallying for “municipal de-bureaucratisation” and “more political transparency”, as well as binning austerity measures in the welfare sector. Catch him freediving with a harpoon in Furesø Lake, parachuting into government complexes by night, or at one of the municipality’s many local social community clubs.

By lacing up in a pair of boxing gloves for his campaign poster, commercial pilot HP Beck, 38, is literally fighting for our social rights. “I worked as a care assistant for almost 15 years for disabled children and adults,” he says. “I have been ‘on the floor’ – I’ve seen what happens when the funding for the disabled is cut and administrative requirements increase.” He stands for “realistic proposals for the country’s problems”, and he calls the light rail a “weird project” and a waste of taxpayer money.

Rolf Bjerre; Kristendemokraterne in CPH

Andreas Karlsen; Konservative in Ringsted

Thomas Simone Maare; Radikale in Tårnby

Malte Jäger; Nye Borgerlige in Kerteminde

Let’s make no bones about it, Rolf Bjerre is a badass. Firstly, he’s wearing an eyepatch. Secondly, he’s fighting for “a proper digital foundation in Copenhagen and Denmark” and lists Edward Snowden as one of his political role-models. He wants to reorganise the capital’s digital infrastructure and encode it using open-source code, “so everyone can see how our data is processed”, and to build in digital civil rights to help us to navigate the coming digital era.

Clearly the rules governing election posters are loose, but surely a candidate must, at the very least, be a human? Well, no, as Andreas Karlsen has proved with his campaign billboard featuring his dog, Wilma. “Ringsted must be on the map! It is time for greater ambitions for Ringsted municipality,” says Karlsen. When asked who should be mayor of Ringsted, he answered “Andreas Karlsen”. Wilma, a golden retriever, had little to add on the matter. Maybe she supports Enhedslisten.

“I am a nonbinary trans person, born in 1968, married to Åsa and have two boys aged 13 and 15,” says Maare, who is holding the fort as the only trans-identifying election candidate. Their policies centre on urban communities with space for everyone – “because it is so important that we interact across social strata”, they explain. Maare has 26 years of experience working with city lighting – half of which has been in project-managing the construction of energy-saving lights around Copenhagen.

19-year-old Malte Jäger is taking the ‘sex sells’ approach by going shirtless on his election posters. To be fair to the man – he is ripped. Unfortunately his policies are less so. “Roughly speaking, all taxes must be reduced” and “basically, municipalities, regions and the state decide too much”, he asserts. Did he write them last-minute as the teacher was coming round to collect them? Jäger wants less state control, but has no idea how or why. Once more for those at the back, though: he is absolutely peeled.

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POSTERS

Claus Skjoldborg; Socialdemokraterne in Odense

Jens Andersen; TA in Middelfart

Per Clausen; Enhedslisten in Aalborg

Yasser Ghanbari; SF in Copenhagen

HP Beck might struggle in the ring against this contender. “I’m probably the hardest-hitting local politician,” says Claus Skjoldborg, who is both a city councillor and Mixed Martial Arts ﬁghter. He’s the CEO of MyFightBook – a digital platform connecting MMA federations, clubs and ﬁghters. Skjoldborg wins this year’s Most Creative Billboard award for wrapping himself around a lamppost in the fashion of someone about to perform a savage elbow drop from above on passing constituents.

Instead of his face, Jens Andersen has opted for an illustration by sixyear-old Sally Nyhus Madsen of what should comprise a good municipality. Sea animals, rainbows, cows, pigs, beaches, roads and bridges feature heavily – though Andersen’s election promises are more focused on improving communication between city council committee chairmen and local citizens and supporting core welfare services. It’s yet to be seen whether he will implement the controversial pigs-on-the-street pavement.

Per Clausen’s black-and-white caricature election-poster has become a cult image in Denmark. Penned by Johanne Schmidt-Nielsen, a colleague of Clausen’s in Folketinget, the cartoon appealed to Clausen so much that he decided to use it in his campaign back in 2017. Fast forward to today: if it ain’t broke don’t ﬁx it. Clausen, who was a member of Folketinget from 2005-15, now sits on the Aalborg city council, where he has represented the landscape, elderly and disability and school committees.

“I myself have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and therefore know how difficult help can be to find when one is mentally vulnerable, and I know the stigma that people with mental illness encounter,” says Ghanbari, who advocates for increased research and support around mental health, more affordable housing and more free art on the streets. Ghanbari has led by example by putting out a slew of artistic election posters adorned with paintings of local areas that reference film, art and modern technology.

Chris Veber; DF in Guldborgsund

Alexander Ryle; Liberal Alliance in Copenagen

Michael Staal-Olsen; Mexican election party in CPH

Janus Boye, Socialdemokratiet in Aarhus

There’s a lot to unpack here: the cowboy hat, the mirrored shades, the nostalgic black-and-white, the tough-guy grimace and ‘CHRIS VEBER’ in cinematic font. Pictures speak louder than words, and Veber seems to be saying “There’s a new sheriﬀ in Guldborgsund” and “I run a meme page”. Whatever he’s communicating, it’s a power-move – just like his role model, Nigel Farage. “He has fought for his cause and reached it. You have to respect that,” says Veber, of the widelydisliked ex-Brexit-Party leader.

Just who is the mysterious Alexander Ryle who has no picture at all? With a poster as personality-less as a PowerPoint slide, maybe he felt his face would distract from his political message. Maybe he couldn’t get a babysitter on the day they shot the portraits. Or maybe he’s just a rebel without a ... Whatever the reason, a disembodied quote about society hanging blandly off a traffic light isn’t winning any points for visuals. Ryle wants more affordable housing and more spending on welfare for vulnerable citizens.

The ‘Mexican-themed Election Party’ party, headed by Michael Staal-Olsen, delivered on its one and only policy last Saturday by holding a Mexican election party. In that sense it’s nailed 100 percent of its election promises ahead of the vote. Impressive. Staal-Olsen invited a food truck to attend and rustled up 5,000 kroner from the party support pool, while a piñata was donated by the Mexican Embassy for the event. So a bit like Fastelavn meets Mexican Day of the Dead.

When Janus Boye’s election posters were ‘amended’ to read ANUS BOY just four days after going up, Boye offered a somewhat baffling explanation: the ink forming the letters J and E was not able to tolerate sun-exposure. “My first thought was how embarrassing,” he told Ekstra Bladet. The jury’s out on whether his next move was defiance or self-sabotage: “I considered taking them down, but then a friend said to me ‘it’s funny, leave them up’, so I did.”

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H ISTORY

It’s been 83 years since the first Socialdemokratiet mayor took office, and no other party has really had a look-in What are the chances of witnessing the chain of oﬃce proudly emblazoning the chest of a brand new blue centre-right mayor?

SOCIAL DEMOCRAT AMONG THE PIGEONS – AT CITY HALL, SINCE RECORDS BEGAN

None – if the experience of the last 83 years is anything to go by. As Copenhagen’s best-loved mayor, HP Sørensen, wittily observed: “When things have gone down the pan, you can be absolutely certain to ﬁnd a social democrat sitting there!” Until 1938 there was no oﬃcial mayor of Copenhagen. A governor appointed by royal decree chaired meetings of the City Council. Constitutional reforms created the post of mayor and in March 1938, Socialdemokraterne endorsed veteran local politician Viggo Christensen as its prime candidate for the post. Since then, the good citizens of Copenhagen have never known anything other than a S mayor – apart from, that is, Hellen Hedemann from Socialistiske Folkeparti, who held the post for two whole days from 25-26 October 2004.

Pedersen. Soon after, Pedersen was forced to retire from both the campaign and politics. During 1938, the newspaper ‘Socialisten’ published an increasing number of articles highlighting how badly the financial affairs of Copenhagen had been run. The articles had the desired effect, and Hedebøl bowed to pressure and threw in the towel.

Sørensen’s tenure began in 1946. His trademark beard made him a popular ﬁgure among cartoonists. Sørensen was not one to turn down a party invitation, and although his term of oﬃce is not remembered for new initiatives and outstanding achievements, he can certainly be described as Copenhagen’s most charismatic lord mayor.

Munk took ﬁrm control of the city’s ﬁnances and initially raised tax levels, which he was later able to lower again, as well as reducing Copenhagen’s debts as the nation entered into an era of recovery from the hard war years.

Christensen therefore became the unopposed lord mayor, although his eight years in power were largely spent during the Nazi occupation.

Urban Hansen

Sigvard Munk Viggo Christensen

Viggo ‘Crafty’ Christensen With working class roots, Christensen’s path to power was by no means easy. Opposing him were PJ Pedersen and Peder Hedebøl, the candidate with the highest proﬁle. During the campaign a scandal involving fraudulent activity in Copenhagen’s meatpacking district emerged. Questions were asked in the S newspaper, and ﬁngers were pointed at the political administration and especially

HP Sørensen

HP ‘Socialite’ Sørensen Copenhagen’s next mayor was none other than HP Sørensen, the journalist who had played a vital background role Christensen’s election. In 1941, he had refused to publish pro-Nazi articles and had been forced to resign his post as editor of the S newspaper.

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‘Steady’ Sigvard Munk Sigvard Munk’s 18 years as the deputy mayor for social aﬀairs made him an ideal candidate to take over from Sørensen. Munk was responsible for taking the initiative to save the precious Torah scriptures from the Germans during an October 1943 round-up of Jewish citizens. He had them smuggled out of the synagogue in Krystalgade in an ambulance and held in safety at Trinitatis Church for the duration of the war.

Urban ‘Housing’ Hansen Next up was the aptly-named Urban Hansen, whose 14-year leadership was characterised by slum redevelopment. Although his ambitious vision of 25,000 new residences for Copenhageners didn’t quite come to fruition, more than 4,500 new dwellings in Amager (Urbanplanen) and Bronshøj came some way to improving the city’s accommodation problems. Arguably the spiritual architect of the current developments in Ørestad that began six years after his death in 1992, the Hansen administration will also be remem-

H ISTORY

bered for replacing trams with a network of city buses. Egon ‘Wet Fish’ Weidekamp With 25 years’ experience at City Hall, Egon Weidekamp was the natural replacement for Hansen. The new mayor was the prime mover in a ruthless housing redevelopment policy, which involved old rental properties in Copenhagen being systematically torn down. Confrontations with squatters followed, as young homeless people who had occupied empty properties were evicted – often in violent battles with police. In 1982, Weidekamp gave the troublesome squatters the use of the landmark Nørrebro building Jagtvej 69.

Jens Mikkelsen

Jens ‘Misappropriator’ Mikkelsen Jens Kramer Mikkelsen holds the undisputed title of longest serving mayor, having served from 1989 to 2004. In 1989, Copenhagen was not in the best of shape, with high unemployment and numerous social problems. During his tenure, the Ørestad and Metro projects were kick-started, and around 20,000 council properties were sold to the occupants as housing co-operatives.

announced his resignation in September 2004.

Ritt Bjerregaard

Ritt ‘Battleaxe’ Bjerregaard Lars Engberg’s 13-month period in charge was basically a matter of keeping the seat warm for Ritt Bjerregaard. He oversaw the sale of public utility Københavns Energi (KE) to Dong – the 6 billion kroner proceeds went directly to the prestigious City-Ring project. With a background as minister for education, Bjerregaard was already a well-known personality in Denmark, although with a somewhat chequered history; she was dropped from Anker Jørgensen’s government for problems with expenses at the Hotel Ritz in Paris in 1978. Bjerregaard’s election promise of 5,000 new ﬂats for a monthly rent of 5,000 kroner was something that would come back to haunt her. Jagtvej 69 became fodder for the national and international press, as massive protests and aggressive confrontations eventually led to the building being torn down. Bjerregaard left her post in 2009 after seeing her grand visions thwarted.

His time at the top was not completely controversy free: a 50,000 kroner prize awarded to him by an estate agent’s fund in 2001 was publicly promised to the homeless, but reportedly spent on a family trip to Australia. His increasing business connections in the Ørestad development were making it hard for him to be seen as impartial, and he

‘Fumbling’ Frank Jensen In 2006, when the two-way battle between Helle Thorning Schmidt and Frank Jensen for the post of new S leader ended in victory for the latter, the consolation prize three years later was the chance to become the new mayor of Copenhagen. A steadfast social democrat since his teenage years, Jensen had steadily risen through the ranks. No stranger to criticising his own party, Jensen has also come out with progressive suggestions such as legalising the sale of cannabis to combat gang criminality as well as initiatives to improve conditions for the business community in Copenhagen.

Lars Weiss

Lars ‘Locum’ Weiss In the late summer of 2020, rumours began to circulate that Jensen’s days as Copenhagen mayor were likely numbered due to mostly historic cases of inappropriate behaviour about to resurface. Following hot on the heels of the resignation of Radikale leader Morten Østergaard, there was little room to manoeuvre, and Jensen’s initial apology that he wanted to go from “being part of the problem to being part of the solution” failed to resonate. He left office within a week. Right from the start, Lars Weiss insisted he was just the stand-in, as he had no intention of standing in 2021. Perhaps this took the pressure off a little bit, as he has had a quiet term of office – or at least compared to his predecessor

Frank Jensen A DV E RTO RIA L

Sophie Hæstorp Andersen

Sophie ‘Hash-friendly’ Hæstorp? Sophie Hæstorp Andersen, the chair of the Capital Region January 2014, is the latest S candidate hoping to continue the tradition, but she faces a tougher challenge than before, with Enhedslisten running neck-andneck in the polls thanks to strong support in districts like Nørrebro and Andersen’s home hood Vesterbo. Enhedslisten’s preferred candidate is Line Barford, a former MP with political experience, who like Andersen was first elected in 2001. The party needed someone fast after Ninna Hedeager Olsen, the current mayor for technical and environmental issues, confirmed her intention to pack it in. In 2019, she took extended sick leave after a man was charged with raping a woman in her bed after a boozy night out. While the man was cleared at the high court, nobody’s really forgotten the episode. Whether Barfod has enough clout to see off Andersen, a politician with ministerial experience, remains to be seen. It’s known that Enhedslisten wants to get confrontational – most particularly in the arenas of climate, housing, jobs and marginalised neighbourhoods – but that it might be better served with two of the other six mayorships, as leading City Hall from the far left can be a tall order when trying to reach consensus. Besides, Andersen might have a trump card as she is unequivocally in favour of the legislation of cannabis. She wants to introduce a system similar to the way the Swedes sell alcohol. Election Day will reveal whether she can motivate enough potheads to leave the apartment to give her the extra hit she needs.

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For Copenhagen, culture and the family

Karina

BERGMANN www.karinabergmann.dk

/KarinaBergmannC

Det Konservative Folkeparti