Major business figures in Aalborg have launched sharp criticism against Jan Nymark Thaysen, the Liberal Party's mayoral candidate, just before municipal elections. This represents a significant break from traditional business support for conservative candidates in Denmark's fourth-largest city.
Rasmus Haugaard, Chairman of Business North Denmark, voiced the collective frustration of the organization's board. He stated the leadership in the City and Landscape Administration has been insufficient under Thaysen's four-year tenure. Many business members feel directly provoked by the conservative councilor's support for changes they consider clearly negative.
The criticism comes from prominent Aalborg business leaders including Hans Andersen from City Ejendomme Aalborg, Mark Nielsen from Coolshop, André Eriksen from Asetek, Martin Harrig from Delta Ejendomme, and developer Bent Amstrup. Their unified stance against a traditionally business-friendly candidate signals deeper issues in municipal-business relations.
This conflict traces back to December 2021 when Aalborg Municipality admitted to years of illegal practices. The municipality had forced developers to pay for public infrastructure in exchange for approving local plans. The scandal rocked the City and Landscape Administration, leading to the firing of both the director and city architect. The then-councilor Hans Henrik Henriksen from the Social Democrats briefly considered taking sick leave for his remaining term.
Thaysen took over the troubled administration in early 2022 with promises of forward-looking leadership. At a Business North Denmark council meeting that February, he declared the skeletons were out of the closet and emphasized moving forward with shared visions. Now, nearly four years later, business leaders are assessing how those visions translated into practice.
The timing of this public criticism, just before elections, suggests business leaders want to influence voter perception of Thaysen's candidacy. Their willingness to break with traditional political alliances indicates serious concerns about municipal governance and development policies. This development could impact the Liberal Party's chances in Aalborg's mayoral race, particularly among voters who prioritize economic development and business-friendly policies.
Aalborg's business community appears united in demanding better representation of their interests, regardless of traditional political affiliations. The situation highlights growing tensions between municipal administration and private sector development in one of Denmark's key regional centers.