Lasse Frimand Jensen will continue as Social Democratic mayor of Aalborg after a dramatic political reversal that saw Conservative councilor Vibeke Gamst break with her party's agreement. The political landscape shifted dramatically during a Sunday press conference at Aalborg's old city hall.
Earlier that day, Radical politician Jes Lunde had announced he had gathered majority support from the conservative bloc. But that coalition collapsed when Gamst decided to abandon the agreement her party's lead candidate Morten Thiessen had made to support Lunde.
This creates a new majority coalition comprising Social Democrats, Socialist People's Party, Red-Green Alliance, and Vibeke Gamst, totaling 16 seats in the city council. The development represents a significant political realignment in Aalborg municipal politics just days after local elections.
Gamst described her decision as enormous and difficult. She expects to be expelled from the Conservative Party but stated she has no plans to switch parties. I am Conservative, so there are no other parties for me, she declared at the press conference.
When asked about his confidence in remaining mayor ahead of the constitutive council meeting on December 3, Jensen expressed expectation that an agreement is an agreement. He remains open to broad cooperation and specifically invited the Conservatives to participate, welcoming other interested parties as well.
The new coalition agreement means the two councilor positions from the group will go to Peter Larsen from Socialist People's Party and Vibeke Gamst from Conservatives. Lasse Olsen from Red-Green Alliance becomes chairman of Aalborg Forsyning, the city's utility company.
Jes Lunde, who earlier expected to become mayor on January 1, called the new agreement without him a surprising development. Though disappointed, he acknowledged these are the conditions in politics and emphasized he will continue working for the policies behind his original agreement with conservative parties.
The political fallout extends beyond the immediate power shift. Lasse Olsen from Red-Green Alliance characterized Lunde's attempt to become mayor as both untrustworthy and dishonorable, feeling blindsided by the maneuver. Peter Larsen from Socialist People's Party described himself as deeply shaken and expressed lost trust in collaborating with Lunde over the next four years.
This political drama highlights the fluid nature of Danish municipal politics, where post-election negotiations can dramatically reshape governing coalitions. The breakdown of the Green Election Alliance, which included fighting against the controversial Third Limfjord Connection, signals potential realignment in Aalborg's political landscape for years to come.
For international observers, this demonstrates how Nordic coalition politics often involve complex negotiations and last-minute changes that can override initial election results. The situation also shows how individual politicians sometimes prioritize personal convictions over party loyalty, creating unexpected political outcomes.
Looking forward, the working relationship with the Radical Party remains uncertain. Jensen acknowledged losing political trust in Jes Lunde following Sunday's events but stated he would cooperate as always, though the Radicals need to regain trust after what he called a significant breach of confidence.