A local politician in Denmark faces harassment and physical attacks after changing political parties. Ulla Sørensen from Middelfart Municipality switched from the Social Democrats to the Liberal Party following recent local elections. Her partner says she now receives hundreds of threatening messages and was spat on in public. The situation highlights the intense emotions surrounding Danish coalition politics.
Her partner described a disturbing incident that occurred Friday morning. A stranger approached Sørensen while she was taking out the trash. The man called her Judas before spitting directly in her face. This physical attack followed hundreds of unpleasant messages received through phone calls and social media platforms.
Sørensen feels upset and exhausted by the strong reactions to her decision. She and her partner are considering reporting the harassment to police. For now, she remains at home for safety reasons.
The party switch created dramatic political consequences in the coastal municipality. Sørensen previously served as first deputy mayor for the Social Democrats. Her 252 personal votes secured the ninth and final Social Democratic seat in the municipality. Most observers expected her to continue supporting her former party colleague Johannes Lundsfryd Jensen as mayor.
Her move to the Liberal Party instead triggered a complete power shift. Many initially believed Sørensen would become the new mayor herself. Instead, the Liberal Party presented Anders Møllegård as their mayoral candidate on Thursday. Sørensen stated she had only acted as negotiation leader during the process.
The political maneuver sparked public outrage among local voters. Approximately 200 protesters gathered outside city hall on Thursday. They carried signs with slogans like stop the vote thief to express their anger over the party change. The demonstration showed how strongly citizens reacted to the perceived betrayal of their electoral support.
Danish coalition politics often involve complex negotiations after elections. Party switching remains relatively rare but can determine which parties form local governments. The intense reaction in Middelfart reflects how personally voters take these political calculations. What does this mean for trust in the political process when elected representatives change parties?
The case raises questions about political accountability in Denmark's proportional representation system. Voters elect individual candidates but also vote for party platforms. When politicians switch parties between elections, they essentially reinterpret their electoral mandate. This creates tension between personal political freedom and voter expectations.
Similar incidents have occurred in other Danish municipalities following election results. The emotional response in Middelfart appears particularly strong given the physical confrontation and organized protests. The situation demonstrates how local politics can generate passionate reactions that extend beyond typical political disagreement.
Danish police typically investigate threats against public officials as serious matters. The country has generally maintained civil political discourse despite strong disagreements. This case tests those norms and raises concerns about the safety of elected representatives making controversial decisions.