Veteran Danish politician Pia Kjærsgaard has announced her bid to become chair of the newly formed Eastern Denmark region following upcoming local elections. The 78-year-old former parliamentary speaker made her intentions clear during a televised debate featuring leading candidates for the regional leadership position.
Kjærsgaard stated directly, "Regional chair, that should be me. If we have a majority and we get many mandates, why shouldn't I put myself forward. That's how it should be for all of us." Her declaration came during a Sunday evening debate program that featured frontrunner candidates for the new administrative district.
The political veteran expressed specific concerns about the newly created Eastern Denmark region, which will merge the existing Zealand and Capital regions. This consolidated territory will serve approximately 2.8 million residents, making it one of Denmark's most significant administrative entities.
During the debate, Kjærsgaard highlighted several key priorities for the region's healthcare system. She emphasized the need to protect small local hospitals, many of which face potential closure. The politician also called for maximum 15-minute ambulance response times and insisted that healthcare staff must speak and understand Danish.
Kjærsgaard brings substantial leadership experience to her candidacy, having previously served as Speaker of the Danish Parliament in addition to her long tenure leading the Danish People's Party. The elected politicians for Eastern Denmark region will assume full operational responsibility starting January 2027.
This major regional restructuring became reality through a healthcare reform agreement reached last year. The reform received backing from the government coalition along with the Social Liberals, Conservatives, and Socialist People's Party. Notably, Kjærsgaard's Danish People's Party opposed the healthcare reorganization from the beginning.
The consolidation reduces Denmark's regional administrative units from five to four. This represents one of the most significant changes to Danish regional governance in recent years, with substantial implications for healthcare delivery and resource allocation across the affected areas.
Kjærsgaard's regional leadership bid comes despite her September announcement that she would not seek reelection to parliament in the next general election, which must occur by October 31, 2026. This timing suggests the veteran politician sees regional leadership as a final chapter in her extensive political career rather than a stepping stone to higher office.
The Eastern Denmark region leadership represents a substantial political prize, controlling significant healthcare resources and serving nearly half of Denmark's population. Kjærsgaard's candidacy signals that established national politicians recognize the importance of these new regional structures, even as they phase out of national politics.
Regional elections typically attract less voter attention than national contests, but the creation of these new super-regions and high-profile candidacies like Kjærsgaard's could increase public engagement. The merger of two existing regions also creates administrative challenges that will test the leadership capabilities of whoever assumes the chair position.