November 2017
Special supplement
Why you should vote IN THE LOCAL AND REGIONAL ELECTIONS on Tuesday November 21 we choose which kind of city we want to live in. We each cast our vote for the person or party that we believe will be best for Copenhagen.
THE POLITICIANS WE ELECT LOCALLY will be responsible for most of the things we experience in our daily lives. They prioritise funds for daycare and for schools. They decide if Copenhagen gets a new harbour swimming bath or a new football pitch; and this is in addition to the services we offer entrepreneurs and established businesses. Local politicians are also responsible for most of the roads and bicycle paths, as well as for the construction and maintenance of the Copenhagen metro. It is up to us how we prioritise recycling and sustainability. In other words, local politicians are responsible for a range of decisions from fixing the pothole in your street to the long-term strategy of the city.
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If you are new to Copenhagen and maybe just plan on staying here for a few years, you might not think voting is worth the trouble. Copenhagen is a melting pot of people from all over the world. Some are here for just a few months – others end up staying a lifetime. However, I strongly advise all of you who are entitled to vote to use you democratic right and vote in the local elections.
Frank Jensen M AYO R O F C O P E N H A G E N
El e c t ions t o t h e m u n i c i p al c i t y c o u n c i l T u esd ay 21 N ove m be r 2 0 17
All you need to know about how to vote
PHOTO: MIK HARTWELL
ON TUESDAY 21 NOVEMBER 2017, fifty-five members must be elected to the municipal city council (Borgerrepræsentationen) in the Copenhagen municipality. On the same day, 41 members of the regional council in Regionen Hovedstaden will also be elected. On election day, the polling stations are open for voting in both elections from 08:00-20:00. You can see from your polling card where you need to go to vote. You will receive your polling
WHO CAN VOTE? Any person who has attained the age of 18 years and is resident in the local authority area is eligible to vote in the election to local and regional councils. People who are not nationals of Denmark, another EU member state, Iceland or Norway may only vote if they have resided in the kingdom for a period of three years prior to the election. If you are eligible to vote in the election to local and regional councils, you are normally also eligible to stand for election to such councils. According to the new rules, foreigners whose residence permit has expired, who are on tolerated stay, have been expelled from Denmark or who have been placed straight into one of the Danish prison and probation service’s institutions, cannot vote. In this election, people who have been deprived of their legal capacity under a guardianship order are entitled to vote. The detailed rules for voting entitlement can be found on the ministry of economic affairs and the interior’s website at http://valg.oim.dk POSTAL VOTING Postal voting is available from Tuesday 10 October 2017 up to and including Friday 17 November 2017 in the citizen service centre (Borgerservice), Nyropsgade. Postal voting is also available at citizen service centres in eight other locations from Tuesday October 31 up to and including Friday November 17. A list of the service centres in question is available at www.kk.dk/valg In this election, people who have been deprived of their legal capacity under a guardianship order are entitled to vote. The detailed rules for voting entitlement can be found on the ministry of economic affairs and the interior’s website at http://valg.oim.dk
card by post just before the election.
VOTING AT HOME If you are unable to go to a polling station because of sickness or reduced mobility, you can apply for permission to vote in your own home. Applications can be submitted from Tuesday 24 October 2017. The final cut-off date for applying is Thursday November 9. Contact your local centre, handicap centre or home help to assist you in obtaining and sending in the application forms. You can also pick up the forms in your citizens service centre or have them sent by contacting Folkeregister at phone: +45 3366 3366. VOTING FROM A HOSPITAL, OLD PEOPLES’ HOME ETC If you are in hospital, live in an old peoples’ home, sheltered accommodation, crisis centre etc, or are incarcerated in one of the probation service’s institutions or prisons, you can cast your vote at that institution on a yet to be determined date before polling day.
HANDICAP ACCESS TO POLLING STATIONS Polling stations have been arranged to allow the best possible access, not least for handicapped people or those with reduced mobility. In polling stations where there is free access, handicap polling booths have been erected. All the booths will be equipped with magnifying glasses and additional lighting for those with difficulty seeing. At polling stations where it is impossible to enter with a wheel chair or similar, a voting room will be set up in the vestibule or in a pavilion just outside the entrance. Voters unable to enter the polling station will also be given the option of voting just outside, ie in a parked car. IF YOU NEED TO CHANGE POLLING STATION If you have a handicap or reduced mobility you can change polling station within your municipality of residence. You can apply to change your polling station from Tuesday 24 October 2017. The final cut-off date for applying is Monday November 13 at 12:00. You can pick up the forms in your citizen service centre or have them sent by contacting Folkeregister at phone: 3366 3366. FURTHER INFORMATION You can obtain more information on the election at www.kk.dk/valg You can also contact the Copenhagen municipality at phone: 3366 3366 or mail: valg@kff.kk.dk
LOCAL ELECTIONS
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How does the city council work? SOURCE Scythian, Wikipedia
Your guide to the city council of
Copenhagen and the six committees BY EMMA HOLLAR EVERY FOUR YEARS Denmark holds municipal and regional elections. On November 21 this year, residents of Denmark – both natives and internationals – have the chance to vote for the people who will govern them locally and spend a sizeable proportion of their tax money. The local government in Copenhagen is called Københavns Borgerrepræsentation – the city council. The city council of Copenhagen, comprised of 55 members from both ends of the political spectrum, is the city’s supreme political authority. While the council has seven deputy mayors, the mayor is its chairman. The six deputy mayors are the heads of different political committees. The 55 members of the city council are elected for a four-year term and have full-time jobs besides being in local politics whilst the mayor and deputy mayors of the various departments are full-time politicians. THE MAYOR Copenhagen’s current mayor is Frank Jensen from Socialdemokratiet, who was elected in 2010. Jensen is the chairman of the city council and sets the agenda for the meetings. Since the position was created in 1938, Copenhagen has only had social democrat mayors – apart from an extremely brief interregnum period of 2 days in October 2004 when a member of Socialistiske Folkeparti held the post. Jensen is head of the finance committee, the most important of the seven committees. 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. TECHNICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE Morten Kabell (Enhedslisten) is the deputy mayor in charge of the technical and environmental committee. 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. For example, Copenhagen has pledged to go CO2-neutral by 2025.
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CULTURE AND LEISURE COMMITTEE The culture and leisure committee is headed by Carl Christian Ebbesen (Danske Folkeparti). Culture is an important aspect in Copenhagen, which has been voted the world’s best city to live and work in a number of times by international magazines. This is where the culture and leisure committee comes in. The committee is responsible for libraries, cultural centres, museums, national archives and over 100 sports facilities, basically anything involving culture and leisure. CHILDREN AND YOUTH COMMITTEE Denmark and the Nordic countries in general are well known for their childcare systems, making the child and youth committee one of the most important committees. The committee is responsible for daycare institutions, special education institutions, primary and lower secondary schools, after-school centres and clubs within Copenhagen. Pia Allerslev from Venstre is the current deputy mayor in charge of the committee. With more than 17,000 employees under their auspices, the child and youth committee is the largest municipal department in the city of Copenhagen. HEALTH AND CARE COMMITTEE As deputy mayor in charge of the health and care committee, Ninna Thomsen (Socialistisk Folkeparti), focuses on what she considers as the two largest issues – 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. Some issues the committee focuses on include disease prevention and health promotion, home nursing, dental treatment, school health services and much more. SOCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE The role of Jesper Christensen (Socialdemokratiet), 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.
EMPLOYMENT AND INTEGRATION COMMITTEE Anna Mee Alerslev (Radikale Venstre), the current incumbent as deputy mayor in charge of the employment and integration committee, is responsible for increasing employment and promoting inclusion in Copenhagen. Although the number is falling, around 76 percent of Copenhageners are Danes. 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.
A GUIDE TO THE MAJOR PARTIES AND THEIR ALIGNMENTS
SOCIALDEMOKRATIET – Social democrats SOCIALISTISK FOLKEPARTI – socialist people’s party DET RADIKALE VENSTRE – the Danish social-liberal party ENHEDSLISTEN – the red-green alliance ALTERNATIVET – the alternative
VENSTRE – describe themselves as Denmark’s liberal party DET KONSERVATIVE FOLKEPARTI – the conservative party DANSK FOLKEPARTI – the Danish people’s party LIBERAL ALLIANCE – ideologically a liberal and libertarian party
A place for AD
REGIONS OF DENMARK Wikipedia.org
Regions and councils – what’s the difference? ANYONE THINKING OF voting on Tuesday November 21 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.
NORDJYLLAND
In Denmark, there are four levels of local government that Danes and Danish residents can vote for: EU, national, regional and councils. November’s elections are to choose representatives for Denmark’s five regions and 98 councils, 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.
HOVEDSTADEN
MIDJYLLAND
SYDDANMARK
SJÆLLAND
In 2017, the municipalities administered a total budget of 340 billion kroner. Of that, 241.9 billion went on schools and care for the elderly, 69.5 billion on benefits and pensions for people who have to retire early and 2.5 billion on utilities and running costs. So the decisions made by these elected representatives can have an enormous socio-economic impact on people’s lives. COUNCILS A. P. MØLLER SCHOOL Taschenkrebs, Wikipedia.org
Besides Copenhagen City Council, the greater Copenhagen area includes 12 other councils, including Gentofte, Frederiksberg and Tårnby. The majority of Danish councils serve around 20-100,000 residents, though the largest, Copenhagen City Council, serves 606,057 as of April 2017. Councils are Denmark’s smallest political unit and must comprise between 25-31 elected members. Copenhagen Council is the only exception, with 55 members.
GAMMEL HALLERUP GIMNASIUM Wikipedia.org
Half of all public spending is made by councils, which are responsibility for a vast majority of public services including schools, care for the elderly, sports, cultural facilities, childcare, adult education and integration programs. While councils 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.
HERLEV HOSPITAL Bastian Dam, Wikipedia.org
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.
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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.
LOCAL ELECTIONS
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COPENHAGEN GOALS
In The Alternative, Denmark’s green party, we are working ceaselessly to create a 100% sustainable society. The world is in dire need of countries, companies and cities which take the green transition seriously. We want Copenhagen to be a city at the very forefront of this transition, not only for the sake of Copenhageners, but also for the sake of the whole world. With the United Nations taking the lead, the international community has set 17 highly ambitious development goals to be achieved by 2030 at the latest. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) make up the most ambitious transition plan the world has ever seen. And if it’s up to us, The Alternative in Copenhagen, we should take inspiration from that level of ambition, and do everything we can to achieve those goals—at international, national and local levels alike. That’s why we have set our own 17 “Copenhagen Goals”, which serve as The Alternative’s policy platform for the upcoming local elections. Our city bears a unique position to build on. It’s easy to see why cities from all over the world are looking to Copenhagen for good practices in sustainable urban planning. That’s something we should be proud of, but at the same time we should also see it as an obligation to constantly get better—to go even further, with ever higher ambitions and ever increasing determination. We believe that if we keep raising the bar, other cities will follow suit—as many have done in the past—to the benefit of the whole world, its citizens and all its living creatures across continents. In short, The Alternative’s objective is to make Copenhagen not only the best city in the world, but also the best city for the world.
We are convinced that our 17 Copenhagen Goals will help make that happen. Read our Copenhagen Goals on www.kbh.alternativet.dk or find our Facebook page, “The Alternative”.
Social Democrat among the pigeons – at City Hall, since records began It’s been seventy-nine years since the first Socialdemokraterne mayor took office, and no other party has really had a look-in B Y P E T E ST R E A DE R
‘STEADY’ SIGVARD MUNK
WHAT ARE THE CHANCES of witnessing the chain of office proudly emblazoning the chest of a brand new blue centre-right mayor? None – if the experience of the last 79 years is anything to go by.
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.
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 the post.
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.
Since then, the good citizens of Copenhagen have never known anything other than a S mayor – apart, that is, from Hellen Hedemann from Socialistiske Folkeparti, who held the post for 2 whole days from 25-26 October 2004. VIGGO ‘CRAFTY’ CHRISTENSEN
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 remembered for replacing trams with a network of city buses.
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 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. Christensen therefore became the unopposed lord mayor, although his eight years in power were largely spent during the Nazi occupation.
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. 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.
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EGON WEIDEKAMP
Source: Jordogbeton
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.
It’s about people
Nr. 2 on the radikale list
David Munis Zepernick Frederiksberg – Yes we can…make integration work! Read more at frederiksbergradikal.dk
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.
PHOTO: News Ãresund - Johan Wessman
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. 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 announced his resignation in September 2004.
PHOTO: Janus Bahs Jacquet, Wikipedia.com
JENS MIKKELSEN
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 wellknown 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.
FRANK ‘IT’S MY JOINT’ 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. 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!”
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Dear Copenhagener Thank you for making Copenhagen your home. Copenhagen is a wonderful city with an international vibe and plenty of local “hygge”. Known worldwide for our love of bikes and high degree of trust in each other. A city with vibrant neighbourhoods and a strong community that creates equal opportunities for all. I work for a greener Copenhagen for everyone. Where we can offer our children the best schools and day care. Four years ago I promised school renovations. Today, we have funded renovation of all our schools in Copenhagen. Our next step is to create schools with a higher academic level that will inspire our children.
Frank Jensen
Lord Mayor of Copenhagen
Are you one of them?
9.3 % of Copenhagen voters are not Danish citizens If you live in Copenhagen, you are eligible to vote: or
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If you are an EU-citizen or from Norway or Iceland
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If you have lived in Denmark for the last three years (regardless of your nationality)
Local elections are November 21st - Use your vote! LORD MAYOR OF COPENHAGEN
THE SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC PART Y COPENHAGEN
PHOTO: Søren Svendsen
CECILIA LO N N IN G-SKOVGA A R D
Social mobility
key to making Copenhagen a success AT THE SAME TIME as having a very successful business career in some of the biggest companies in Denmark, Cecilia Lonning-Skovgaard has been involved in local politics since 2005, when she was elected as a substitute for Venstre.
Skovgaard held her first real post from 2008, when she was a member of the administration for children and youth. Since 2014 she has been involved in the area of employment and integration, and has been Venstre’s spokesperson. Here, she discusses some of the issues that are important to her. What makes a good local politician? A good local politician is one that knows their local area and takes an active part in its everyday life. Secondly, it’s important to keep an open mind about which things could be improved and have the courage to challenge the conventional wisdom. You have had a very successful business career. Has this has been an advantage in politics? Being in the private sector has been a huge advantage. It trains you to familiarise yourself with a new topic or area and relatively quickly understand it. You also gain awareness that for an agreement to last or be successful, you need to have all the stakeholders on board.
tackle these issues in under-performing inner city schools. They included methods such as working with very short time horizons. Thirdly, I’d like to look at our social housing model. I’d like to see us experiment a bit and perhaps allow people in some of these ghetto areas to buy their own apartments on a co-operative basis. Some of them may not have any ready cash, but a construction could be set up whereby they could put their pension savings in as payment. That way, it would give them a sense of ownership and perhaps they would then take more responsibility for their property. It would also ultimately give them a way out of the ghetto area because they would be able to benefit from the general increase in property prices.
Which areas politically are closest to your heart? I think the overall area of social mobility – or lack it – in Copenhagen. Sixteen districts have been identified as troubled or of concern. That’s the main area we need to focus on in order to brand ourselves as a successful city, because we have so many citizens not being part of the Copenhagen that the rest of us love and take a pride in. These are people who live in ghetto areas, people who are not an active part of our labour market, people who sometimes don’t share our values.
Secondly, revamping our schools. We have schools in these troubled areas where up to half the children leave the ninth class without the ability to take further education because they don’t have the required skills in reading, writing, arithmetic and so on. We have to look at ways of helping these schools. I’m very inspired by the failing schools initiative in London where, with government support, a really radical approach was adopted to
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Yes, definitely. I’m completely committed to the initiative of Copenhagen as a green city but want to take an approach that uses positive incentives and new technology rather than bans. Do you have any plans to strengthen public transport – and maybe even introduce lower fares? I’d very much like to improve public transport. Over the next four years I’d like to make an agreement regarding future metro lines – a second city ring. We also need to be certain that when the present city ring opens in 2019, the bus routes are properly co-ordinated with it. As for fares, I personally find it hard to understand that in the public transportation company Movia, they have 300 people employed who are not bus drivers. Perhaps we could reduce some of this heavy admin, and even if this only results in a few kroner off the fares, it’s a step in the right direction. What is the main difference between your policies and those of the ‘red’ bloc? Firstly, a willingness to realise and admit that we have a lack of social mobility in the city and we do have severe integration problems and problems with criminality – and the courage to point to new and slightly more radical solutions.
What are your specific policies in these areas? We need to revamp our labour market policy. There are far too many projects that don’t lead to education or jobs. We just keep people passively for years and years. We need a much more realistic approach and a much more end-focused one, where we don’t just count the number of people in public projects this month, but rather concentrate on how many of them did we get into education or into a job?
Are you committed to continuing the current trend towards a ‘greener’ Copenhagen?
A lot of expats and non-Danish speakers can vote, but some feel that perhaps it’s not worthwhile using their vote. What do you say to that, and what could you do for this group if you were elected? It’s very important that this group does vote. It matters which parties and politicians are represented at the Town Hall in terms of preserving and sustaining Copenhagen as an open and international city. If we want to make it attractive for international citizens to come here and then to stay, we ought to have kindergartens where they speak and understand English. We have international schools, we have the European school but maybe we need one of our public schools to have an international profile with a curriculum in English.
Secondly, if Copenhagen is to remain a successful city we need to preserve and maintain jobs there. Experts tell us that modern people want to be able to work and play in the city; they want to commute quickly by bike and public transport. We also want areas where there is life every minute of the day – a constant flow of people. It is vital to keep jobs in the city and some of them need to be private sector ones, so we need to do more to service our business life. Thirdly, we need to take good care of taxpayers’ money by ensuring that it is properly spent and that we put people ahead of the municipality. We must constantly remind ourselves that we are here to improve life and make things easier for our citizens. The weight of the system can sometimes be an overwhelming factor.
Carl Christian Ebbesen
For better culture and leisure activities in Copenhagen, re-elect me as your mayor
MIA N YEG AARD
Progressive solutions and abolishing homelessness
A resident in the inner city in Copenhagen, Mia Nyegaard has a degree in politics and has specialised in African studies. In her business life, she has occupied posts in Denmark but also in London, Brussels and Malmö. A member of the Radikale Venstre since 2000, Nyegaard has been active in a number of party committees. For the last couple of years, she has been the party’s spokesperson on social issues on the municipal city council, where she is a member of the social services committee.
What would you specifically do to promote economic growth in Copenhagen that is not being done already?
What makes a good local politician?
As a board member of the Copenhagen EU Office and Copenhagen Capacity, I aim to enhance co-operation in the whole Öresund region and make Copenhagen a hub for the Baltic Sea region. I also think that we need to remove taxes and VAT on film productions in Copenhagen.
A good local politician is someone who cares about local issues and knows the city they work for – and someone who has both a local and a global view in order to develop the city with respect for its existing values.
A lot of expats and non-Danish speakers can vote, but some feel that perhaps it’s not worthwhile doing so. What do you say to that, and what could you do for this group if you were elected?
You had a successful career in the private sector before going into politics. Has this has been an advantage to you as a local politician?
I would quote Churchill: “Democracy is the least bad form of government”. And expat or not – the rules apply to everybody who lives here. So I think it would be foolish not to use their democratic right to influence the city’s development and operation. And since we very much want expats to stay here and also offer career programs for spouses, help to start up new companies and other things, I say: Please go and vote!
Yes, I think the fact that I have had a very eclectic career has helped me, because I have touched base with a lot of different issues which has given me a broad view and a toolbox to be used in solving different political problems Which areas politically are closest to your heart? As a social-liberal, I’m a big fan of individual and progressive solutions. At the same time, I believe that a society should always be judged by how we treat the most disadvantaged people in the society. What are your specific policies in these areas? My ambition has always been that, as a society, we should be able to abolish homelessness. We need to see people on their own terms and make sure that the ones who need help get help. I am a big fan of flexjobs and socioeconomic companies that can embrace people with special challenges and let them be part of the working community. We need more of that!
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What would you do to ensure a ‘greener’ Copenhagen in the future? Are you in favour of the ban on diesel cars that Frank Jensen wants to impose from 2019? Yes, I’m in favour of the diesel ban in the city and we need to keep the initiative going in the direction of the green transition of the society. I also think it would be an interesting idea to build a new island in the entrance to Copenhagen from Öresund as a new part of the city, with new housing, beaches etc. This could remove some of the traffic around the city centre and at the same time work as flood protection. What is the main difference between your policies and those of the ‘blue’ bloc? We in the Radikale Venstre work dedicatedly for sustainability and equal opportunities for all children.
NI KO GRÜ NFE L D
Promoting economicallyviable environmental policies and giving ordinary people a voice One of the founders of the Alternative, Niko Grünfeld, was born and grew up in Jutland. He studied at Aarhus School of Business, supplementing his studies with courses in leadership, meditation and psychology from schools in the US and England. Niko’s first job was for AGF Football Club as a PR and business consultant before being employed by the consultancy firm, Kaospiloterne. He helped develop and lead the firm, which works with clients from both the private and the public sector. In 2006, he started his own educational company within the health sector. Niko has been treasurer of Alternative for two periods and has been involved in setting up six local subsidiaries around Copenhagen. What makes a good local politician? A good local politician tries to include citizens in as many political questions as possible and – more importantly – gives them an actual mandate to set the agenda at the Town Hall. A good local politician speaks less than he or she listens, and inspires people to take an interest in political decisions. We need some kind of system of representation in a complex modern society, but whenever local solutions are to be found, we must include the people whose everyday lives will be affected. We’ve already seen some relevant initiatives around the world that we can draw inspiration from. Froome in the UK and the People’s Lottery in Toronto are two wonderful examples of innovation where representative democracy is supplemented with local direct democracy tools. Has working for Kaospiloterne been an advantage to you as a local politician? I believe so. It was a time of incredible creativity and there was space for radical ideas and a firm belief in the need for new ways of thinking about education and knowledge. It taught me how to practice leadership in an environment of inclusiveness and full-on entrepreneurship. Which areas politically are closest to your heart? I am concerned that Copenhagen is developing into a city for wealthy people only. Flats are becoming more and more expensive and people with average incomes are having a hard time finding an affordable place to live. As well as housing issues we must think global – and act local. The global climate changes we are facing are of a fundamental character. We need to address this from a local perspective. What are your specific policies in these areas? Regarding the housing market, we need to take action on several levels. First of all, the existing space in the city needs to be put to better use. There are lots of possibilities for using the attics of building all over town as flats. Secondly, it’s crucial that we build more housing for all, avoiding the private market that pushes lower-income families out of the city. On climate issues, we should reduce the amount of meat served in public institutions and serve 100 percent organic dishes. We also need to preserve the cultural and natural legacy of the city by not building in parks or other similar places. Finally it’s crucial to completely rid ourselves of fossil fuels and go over to green engines – not only in public transport, but in the private sphere as well. A lot of expats and non-Danish speakers can vote, but some feel that perhaps it’s not worthwhile using their vote. What do you say to that, and what could you do for this group if you were elected? Voting is not only a choice, it’s an obligation. I believe that when Alternative gets its first term in the Town Hall, we will see radical changes almost
immediately. One thing I can promise is that we will change the debating culture by focusing on solutions rather than check-mate politics. What would you do to ensure a ‘greener’ Copenhagen in the future? Are you in favour of the ban on diesel cars that Frank Jensen wants to impose from 2019? The proposal is indeed interesting. I’m happy to see that most parties recognise that we have a massive environmental crisis. That said, I am not satisfied with the tempo – either as regards attitude or action when it comes to climate policies. I believe that we can dramatically cut down on private cars in Copenhagen much sooner, while giving reasonable incentives for people to choose more pollution-friendly traffic alternatives. Do you have any plans to strengthen public transport – and maybe even introduce lower fares? Public transport is the key to cutting down on the amount of private cars in Copenhagen. Private cars are annoying for two reasons: they pollute and they take up a space we could otherwise use for flats, green areas, sports etc. Public transport needs to be strengthened to persuade people to leave the car at home. This means more public transport, cheaper public transport and greener public transport. But let’s not forget that over 60 percent of Copenhageners travel by bike more than once a day, so we need to strike a balance between modern and sustainable public transport and making it more comfortable, secure and attractive for people to ride their bikes. How do you feel companies can best grow in Copenhagen so that we continue to have prosperity and jobs for its citizens? In the Alternative we want to attract entrepreneurs and startups of great diversity and with crazy ideas and inventions. Today there is not enough public assistance given to companies. What is the main difference between your policies and those of the established blue and red blocs? We don’t belong to any of the two long-established blocs in Danish politics. The Alternative belongs to the green bloc and we are value-based. This means that we’re ready to co-operate with anyone who wishes to set the scene for sustainable policies that take care of the environment while being socially and economically viable. Your party program has a lot of ambitious goals but how would you pay for them without raising taxation significantly? We do not need to raise taxes to fulfil our ambitions. Politics are a matter of economic prioritisation, and at the moment, we are spending way too much on projects that do not work.
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CARL CHRIS TIAN EBBESEN
Carl Christian Ebbesen: in politics to make positive changes for Copenhageners ONE OF THE CO-FOUNDERS of Dansk Folkeparti and still its organisational cochairperson, Carl Christian Ebbesen is Copenhagen’s deputy mayor for culture and leisure. As a teenager he already took a keen interest in politics and after finishing his university degree, came to Copenhagen to work as a political and financial secretary for the party at Christiansborg. He has been a member of Copenhagen City Council since 2001 and on 1 January 2014, became mayor for culture and leisure. His area of responsibility covers the city’s libraries, museums, citizen service centres, sports facilities and culture centres. What makes a good local politician? A trustworthy one. One who works hard and wants to create a better Copenhagen in dialogue with Copenhageners. Which areas politically are closest to your heart? To re-establish safety in the city. There has been far too much criminality lately. We need much more focus on a new and effective integration policy. We should welcome those who want to be part of Danish society and say no to those who don’t. Of course there is also the issue of how we treat our elderly. They’ve created the wealth that has led to us being chosen as the best city in the world to live in and that generation gave us the welfare state. We need to give them respect and help them when and where they need it. Your program states that Copenhagen should be distinguished by Danish values and norms. What does that mean? That means that people who want to live in Copenhagen should not expect special treatment, such as single-sex swimming sessions or special religious concessions concerning food. They should accept that we don’t want to change our society and respect our values, our history and our way of doing things. Sport is close to your heart. What can you do to make sports facilities available to more people? In my four years in office, I’ve secured a budget of 1 billion kroner to invest in new sports and cultural facilities. I’ve almost doubled the amount spent on culture and new sports facilities. That’s because I think it’s healthy that young people take part in sporting activities and follow their interests in their leisure time. It’s also good for their social life. I hope to be re-elected so that I can continue that work.
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Is this also good for promoting integration? Definitely! When you’re playing football you don’t look at where people come from, their religion, or how much their parents earn, but at the person – can he play football or not? In sports clubs and associations you have a social life with people sharing the same interest. It makes for good integration and instils sound Danish values. A lot of expats and non-Danish speakers can vote, but some feel that perhaps it’s not worthwhile using their vote. What could you do for this group if you were re-elected? The key point here is that when you come here to work or study, you need a social life too. I think that culture and sports and clubs where you meet through mutual interests are very important for people who are here for a limited period of time. It’s important to vote for someone like me who has shown that it’s possible to fight for these things instead of someone who doesn’t care about them. That’s a good reason to vote. Are you committed to continuing the current trend towards a ‘greener’ Copenhagen? Yes! I’m working with my colleagues to make Copenhagen CO2-neutral by 2025. It’s also important to me that we have green areas where we can hear the birds and just relax in nature. We can’t build all over Copenhagen. We have to ensure there are spaces for parks and green areas. When I work with the planning department, I’m always thinking of how we can create green spots – oases of calm in the city if you like. Do you have any plans to strengthen public transport and maybe even introduce lower fares? I’ve been a politician for 16 years and I know that it is unrealistic to have both better public transport and lower fares. I think we have to choose. I want better public transport.
Some places have made public transport free and they’ve been able to save money by sacking ticket inspectors etc ... That’s true! This might work in the countryside but in Copenhagen we receive 1.15 billion kroner in revenue. When I was young I also dreamt about that, but now I know it’s not realistic. You have to have the money in your hand before you can spend it, so I’d like to use it on more and better public transport. When you are ‘off duty’ what cultural events do you like to participate in with your family? I’m a very big fan of music and going to concerts, but I like a lot of different cultural events. I enjoy going to the Royal Theatre to see ballet because my girlfriend is a former ballet dancer. Copenhagen has a lot to offer when it comes to culture and that’s how it should be in a big city. We should have things going on to suit all tastes. What is the main difference between your policies and those of the ‘red’ bloc, or don’t you see it in terms of bloc politics? I work with both sides of the political spectrum. That’s what Dansk Folkeparti does. When it comes to social policy and helping people, I often work with the ‘red’ side. When it’s about improving things for business and ensuring that companies have the best conditions to remain in Copenhagen and create jobs, then I often work with the ‘blue’ side. I see myself as a politician able to make agreements with everyone in City Hall because when it comes to local politics, it is the end result that counts and not narrow party lines and I’m in politics to make a change.
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F R AN K JEN S EN
Keeping Copenhagen
a green and affordable city for all FRANK JENSEN BEGAN his political career in the late 70s as chair of the youth wing of Socialkemokratiet, DSU, in Støvring. He was elected into parliament for Socialdemokratiet in 1987, was a member of the finance committee from 1992-1994 and was the party’s political spokesperson until 1994 and again from 2002-2005. He has also held the posts of minister for education and science and minister of justice. Since 2009 he has been mayor of Copenhagen. In that capacity, he oversees an annual budget of 50 billion kroner and employs over 40,000 staff. Jensen is standing for re-election under the slogan ‘Alt det vi har sammen’ – roughly translated as ‘Our city, Together’. What makes a good local politician? Local politics are about results visible in everyday life. Whether we are planting trees in your local park or digging cross-city metro lines, citizens are impacted by our decisions. One of my key priorities is therefore to learn about the expectations and concerns of Copenhageners. This is why I spend a lot of my time visiting local shelters, businesses, local initiatives etc. To achieve results as a local politician you need to be able co-operate with everyone on the city council. You have to be straightforward – and true to your word. You have had a long and successful career in national politics. Has this has been an advantage to you as mayor? Yes! I have been an MP for many years and a minister for seven years – with portfolios in science and justice. At the city council I have been able to rely on my experience from parliament on reaching agreements and compromises in co-operation with many different political parties. Furthermore, I have found it useful to have a strong network in parliament when raising the voice of Copenhagen and pushing for new legislation.
After five years of trying we finally convinced the national government to change the national planning legislation. We are now able to impose a 25 percent share of public housing in all new housing projects, thereby ensuring that Copenhagen remains an affordable city for people with average wages such as nurses and bus drivers. That’s also what “Our City, Together” is about. A lot of expats and non-Danish speakers can vote, but some feel that perhaps it’s not worthwhile using their vote. What do you say to that, and what could you do for this group if you were elected?
What does your campaign slogan ‘Our city, Together’ (Alt det vi har sammen) actually mean?
Expats and non-Danish speakers are deeply affected in their everyday life by the policies and services of the City of Copenhagen. It is therefore important to vote and take an active part in local democracy.
“Alt det vi har sammen” – or “Our city, Together” is about Copenhagen and everything we share. What we have improved, and what we want to achieve in the future.
As part of the drive towards a ‘greener’ Copenhagen you have said that you want to ban diesel cars in the city from 2019. Is this realistic?
We live in a time where inequality is increasing – both on a global level and on the local level. My priority is to make sure that Copenhagen remains an inclusive city for all. This is why I have such a strong focus on providing affordable housing and on improving our schools for the benefit of all Copenhageners, not just a small, wealthy clique. That’s what “Our City, Together” is about. Which areas politically are closest to your heart? Creating equal opportunities is what drives me politically. I work for a diverse city where children are given the opportunities they need to develop their full potential. This is closely linked to one of my key issues: Affordable and modern public housing. In my opinion Copenhagen should be for everyone and this of course begins with housing that people with average or lower incomes can afford. What are your specific policies in these areas? Over the next 10 years we are going to build 10,000 affordable homes (almene lejeboliger).
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From 2019 we’ll phase out diesel cars. However a lot of people and businesses can’t just go out and buy a new car. So you can still enter the city if your diesel car is registered before 2019. In this way, diesel cars will disappear as they are scrapped. Do you have any plans to strengthen public transport – and maybe even introduce lower fares? We’re speeding up electrification of our bus lines. That will contribute substantially to cleaner air. The new metro Cityring will open in 2019, the extension to Nordhavn in 2020 and the Southern Line in 2023. We are continuously working on improving public transport and making it easier to get around in the city. The priority now is to improve public transportation rather than lowering the fares. What is the main difference between your policies and those of the ‘blue’ bloc? The right-wing parties want to reduce taxes whereas my priority is to invest in better day care and schools for our children as well as better care for the elderly. My ambition is to make sure that Copenhagen remains a green and sustainable city with a high quality of life for all Copenhageners.
DA VID M U NI S ZE P E RNI C K
A new kind of Radikale voice for Frederiksberg DAVID MUNIS ZEPERNICK is standing for the Radikale party in the local elections for Frederiksberg Municipality. Born and raised in Denmark, Zepernick’s maternal grandfather was from west Africa, meaning he has more first-hand experience of other cultures than most. Integration is therefore an issue he holds close to his heart, particularly given the portrait of Denmark being perpetuated by many of the country’s newspapers. Today’s tabloids contend that integration is not working in Denmark, a country where people are afraid to visit certain neighbourhoods because of criminal gangs and religious fanatics. Zepernick could not disagree more. He believes constructive solutions are the answer and that newly-arrived foreigners – whether immigrants or refugees – are a potential resource rather than a millstone. In his role as the current chair of the Safe and Alive Foundation, an organisation working to assist victims of trafficking, Zepernick knows only too well what can happen when integration and immigration issues are not addressed. Should he be successful on November 21, he intends to use his seat on the municipal council to push such matters to the forefront and accomplish real change.
You’re running for office in a municipality reluctant to take full responsibility for its allocation of asylum-seekers, having tried to push its burden onto the neighbouring municipality of Copenhagen in a manoeuvre later made illegal. It doesn’t sound like a fair deal. It isn’t! No municipality is better suited to addressing the challenges of integration than Frederiksberg. I don’t buy the argument that we should try to relocate refugees outside Frederiksberg because the housing price per square metre is higher in Frederiksberg than in practically all other municipalities – wealth cannot be an excuse. Pushing the immigrants out rather than trying to integrate them locally is one of the main causes of the marginalised neighbourhoods, which the tabloids are so keen to dwell on. So, how do you intend to address this? Køge and Solrød, two municipalities in the southwest of Copenhagen, have tackled things differently. They encourage foreigners arriving in Denmark that their skills can be adapted to Danish circumstances. The municipalities map their competencies and assign a career mentor to them and/or involve them in voluntary work from the very beginning. This is an excellent way to create success stories for the individuals involved and for the local community, as well as converting as many of them as possible into tax-paying citizens, contributing to the common good and becoming integrated into society because of that. It is also important to publicise these success stories to counter the general perception that every foreigner is an unwanted burden.
What about those who have little education. How can we integrate them? It’s true that many refugees and newly-arrived foreigners have little or no education. They may also be traumatised by their experience getting here. For them to become good tax-paying citizens there has to be a way to get them into the Danish labour market. At the moment, there is a system that works quite well called ‘branchepakkeforløb’, which matches individuals with industries and companies where there is a demand for manual labour. I feel that this should be strengthened, as it does provide real jobs at real companies. What other jobs can they do? I think it is vital to target the young and would like to see a two-fold strategy that includes a job exchange to match young refugees with the jobs that local young people would have, such as in shops and supermarkets. The merit of this is to introduce foreigners to the Danish job climate from the start. I would also like to see people prepared to introduce young newcomers into the social life of the community, such as at sports clubs. This could be an important steppingstone to learning the language and acquiring the necessary social skills to equip them for Danish society. Some places, such as Ringkøbing-Skjern Municipality in Jutland, are already doing this and getting good results. In your role as the chair of the Safe and Alive Foundation, an organisation working to assist victims of trafficking, you’re working hard to address the problem of foreign prostitutes on streets like Istedgade in Copenhagen. Why is it such a big problem? The women, who primarily come from Nigeria and Romania and are here illegally, pose a health risk to themselves. They have no health insurance, which when you take their risky line of ‘work’ into consideration, constitutes a health risk to themselves and everybody else. What have you achieved during your time as chair? I’ve overseen the setting up of a free health clinic for foreign women in prostitution. Since its foundation in 2010, the ‘Tuesday Clinic’ has had about 250-300 consultations a year. It’s the only local initiative addressing that problem. On top of its specific health-related services, the clinic also serves as a point of entry for women with a history of sex trafficking, where they can receive a helping hand from the relevant national authorities. What would like to do if you’re elected? If we work together, we could eradicate sex trafficking in Denmark. But to do that would require a dedicated effort and a victim-focused approach, as suggested by our friends in the US State Department, whereby you stop treating the women as illegal immigrants and criminals and start treating them as victims of a serious crime.
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