A former Moderaterne member has accused Denmark's centrist party of offering him 1.3 million kroner to surrender his parliamentary seat, exposing potential corruption in Danish society's political establishment just as voters prepare for elections. Source: OECD Working Group on Bribery Phase 4 Evaluation of Denmark.
Jon Stephensen, now an independent MP, claims party leadership made the offer in August 2023 while he was on unpaid leave following multiple scandals. The allegation strikes at the heart of Denmark's reputation for clean governance and transparent democratic processes.
Løkke's non-denial raises questions
Moderaterne chairman Lars Løkke Rasmussen's response has been telling in its evasiveness. When pressed about the alleged bribe, according to DR Nyheder, Løkke repeatedly said "I have no comments" rather than flatly denying the claim.
This matters because Danish political culture typically demands clear denials of serious allegations. Løkke's refusal to simply say "no" when asked directly suggests either legal advice to stay silent or concern about contradicting evidence that might emerge.
The timing is particularly damaging for Moderaterne, which positioned itself as a clean alternative to traditional Danish politics when Løkke founded the party in 2021. The party's brand depends heavily on being above the fray of conventional political maneuvering.
Stephensen's loyalty claim reveals deeper tensions
Stephensen's explanation for his delayed disclosure reveals the complex loyalties within Denmark's coalition government structure. He claims he "would have taken it to the grave" to protect the SVM government (Social Democrats, Venstre, Moderaterne) from "great difficulties."
This suggests mandate-trading discussions may be more common in Danish politics than publicly acknowledged. According to Berlingske, Stephensen spent a year actively suppressing the story to maintain government stability.
The allegation also highlights how Denmark's proportional representation system creates incentives for parties to secure marginal seats through questionable means. With coalition governments requiring precise vote counts, individual MPs wield disproportionate influence.
Danish parliamentary ethics rules, overseen by Folketinget's own committees, prohibit financial inducements for political decisions. If proven, such payments would violate both campaign finance laws and public office conduct standards.
Electoral timing suggests strategic disclosure
Stephensen's decision to go public now, just as Denmark enters election season, appears calculated for maximum political damage. His claim that the story "came out" without his control seems disingenuous given his detailed interview with Ekstra Bladet.
The lack of documentation makes verification difficult, but Stephensen's specific details about the 1.3 million kroner figure and August 2023 timing suggest either genuine knowledge or sophisticated fabrication.
For Danish voters, this scandal reinforces growing cynicism about political elites. Recent polling shows declining trust in traditional parties, and corruption allegations against a "clean" party like Moderaterne could accelerate that trend.
Expect Folketinget's ethics committee to launch a formal investigation within weeks, potentially derailing Moderaterne's election campaign and forcing other parties to distance themselves from coalition partners.
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