It is rare to spend a Monday morning discussing who should be the next mayor of employment, integration, and business for Socialdemokratiet in Copenhagen. Normally, the election of a specialized mayor doesn’t garner much attention, but this time the situation is anything but normal.
The Social Democrats are left with only one position after a municipal election that, according to Politiken’s political analyst Elisabet Svane, was a real blow for the party. On top of that, Pernille Rosenkrantz-Theil resigned from the position before she even had a chance to sit in the mayor’s chair.
In Copenhagen, there is a Lord Mayor, who became Sisse Marie Welling from SF. In addition to the Lord Mayor, there are six other mayors responsible for their respective areas.
Now, an extraordinary delegation meeting on Monday evening will decide who will occupy the last mayoral seat and according to Elisabet Svane, both internal conflicts and the identity of Socialdemokratiet are at stake.
Who should be chosen?
Social Democratic members will vote in a two-part election. First, they can choose among five candidates. If none achieve over 50 percent, the two candidates with the most votes will proceed to a decisive round.
According to Elisabet Svane, the vote is a direct reflection of the crisis the party is experiencing – both nationally and locally.
»Firstly, it shows the depth of the Social Democrats’ crisis that we are even discussing who should be the employment mayor in Copenhagen. It usually never becomes a national political issue«, she says.
But the election is not just about finding a mayor. It’s about who will lead the future of Socialdemokratiet in the capital. Internally, it has become a battle between the local members, Christiansborg, and different directions within the party.
The crucial question is what signal the party chooses to send.
»The election will show whether they choose the internal favorite, Andreas Keil, who has the support of the local members but is least known to the public«, she says, adding:
»Or whether they choose one of the three with national political experience, or the young, red Laura Rosenvinge, who might represent a different Copenhagen«.
The election will also answer whether the Social Democrats in Copenhagen will follow the lead from Christiansborg or reclaim power.
»This can be read as the local members’ attempt to say: Now we are in charge, and you should not interfere anymore from Christiansborg«, she adds.
Five candidates – three paths to take
According to Elisabet Svane, it’s not surprising that the field is large:
»It’s completely understandable that candidates are stepping forward. It’s not a war to run, but a free choice, and that must be respected«.
But the motive varies depending on where the candidates sit. The two members of parliament, Mette Reissmann and Yildiz Akdogan, must decide whether to keep their mandate in parliament or pursue a career in Copenhagen.
»If they choose parliament, they can run again, but there’s no guarantee. Socialdemokratiet is not exactly swimming in votes at the moment. The three municipal politicians, Andreas Keil, Laura Rosenvinge, and Lars Aslan Rasmussen, have four years ahead of them in the City Council and naturally reach for the only significant position the party has left«, she assesses.
The vote on Monday is therefore more than a personal choice. It will be a marker of whether the Social Democrats in Copenhagen will:
- Choose the safe option from the local base.
- Go for a red direction with a young profile.
- Or try to lean towards experience and national political influence.
»The result of the election will show a direction. It’s the members who choose, and it’s a rather small group that now decides on behalf of the party after a gigantic defeat«, says Elisabet Svane.
Regardless of the outcome, one thing is certain.
The Social Democratic power landscape in Copenhagen is shifting, and the election could determine who will shape the party leading up to the next election in four years.
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