The article expresses the writer’s opinion.
He says it himself. He has experience in handling crises and fires.
Socialdemokratiet in Copenhagen has chosen firefighter Andreas Keil as the employment, integration, and business mayor, and thus as the political leader.
He will certainly need those skills.
The party, as is well known, had a disastrously poor election in the capital after a fierce campaign led by a candidate with big promises, who also threw her party colleagues and their previous policies under the bus along the way. Add to that a formation between other parties at City Hall excluding the Social Democrats, who are left out of future budget agreements, and with only one mayor and thus a full-time politician.
The party stands – yes, excuse the pun – on a burning platform. Andreas Keil has a big task ahead of him.
He was not a major vote catcher, receiving under 1,000 votes, but he has been part of the city council for 12 years and was recommended by three districts before the vote, and the Social Democrats in the capital need a leader who focuses on policy, not personalities.
First, he must ensure a calm working environment within the Social Democratic group, and then he and the rest of the Social Democrats must find their place at City Hall, now that they are no longer at the head of the table, and rebuild trust with the other parties, which has been worn down by many years of power and damaged by Rosenkrantz-Theil’s uncompromising approach.
Keil’s major task will also be to identify and communicate what visions the Social Democrats have for Copenhagen. What will the party do for the city, now that the city did not give them power once again?
The top of Socialdemokratiet should give them the space to do this. Mette Frederiksen still does not believe that Rosenkrantz-Theil was the wrong candidate. The Copenhageners did, however. Let the Copenhagen politicians figure out who is the right one for the next election.
Socialdemokratiet has a significant share in making Copenhagen a fantastic city to live in and visit today. Now the party should focus on how they will help make the city even better.
