Two mayors named Michael face off in Frederiksberg as accusations fly over the city’s finances, taxes, and past political leadership. A veteran economist weighs in and separates fact from political spin.
The Battle of the Two Michaels
The fight for the mayor’s chain in Frederiksberg has become one of the most heated local contests in Denmark. The Social Democrat Michael Vindfeldt is defending his position after breaking a 112-year Conservative hold on the city four years ago. His rival, Conservative candidate Michael Brautsch, wants to win it back — and both accuse each other of bending the truth about Frederiksberg’s finances.
Vindfeldt claims he inherited a city budget in poor condition. Brautsch rejects that outright, insisting the Conservatives left behind orderly books. To help sort through the claims, economist Niels Jørgen Mau Pedersen, a former senior official at the Ministry of the Interior and longtime Frederiksberg resident, examined the city’s numbers.
Did Vindfeldt Inherit Financial Trouble?
According to Pedersen’s review of the final accounts before Vindfeldt took office, Frederiksberg’s 2021 finances were not in major imbalance. He saw no evidence of widespread mismanagement, though the city did face the same revenue and expenditure pressures felt in many municipalities. In short, Vindfeldt’s statement that he “took over an economy out of balance” stretches the facts.
Pedersen noted that the current administration has stabilized revenue mostly by raising taxes rather than through structural savings. While that has brought temporary relief, it does not mean the economy is in stronger long-term balance.
Rumors of State Intervention Debunked
One of the harsher accusations during the campaign claimed that Frederiksberg was close to being placed under state administration. That claim appeared in the city’s 2023 budget documents and was repeated publicly by Social Democratic officials. However, Pedersen dismissed it as entirely inaccurate. The city’s cash reserves at the time were around one billion kroner — well above the national average. It was never at risk of state takeover.
His conclusion suggests that both sides have used selective interpretations of the numbers to bolster their stories.
Did the Conservatives Maintain Control of the Economy?
Brautsch counters Vindfeldt’s narrative by pointing out that when the Conservatives ran the city, there was only a marginal overspend — roughly 1.8 million kroner on a total budget of 4.3 billion. Most of it was tied to COVID-related costs, and without those, Frederiksberg actually posted a small surplus. Pedersen’s analysis backs up that the finances were largely sound at the time, even if the city was facing growing social expenditures like many Danish municipalities.
Meanwhile, as in many local races, financial issues remain central. Around half of Danish voters typically decide late in municipal elections, a dynamic explored in this piece on Danish local elections.
Why Taxes Rose Sharply
Four years ago, Frederiksberg had the lowest municipal tax rate in Denmark. Since then, taxes have risen faster there than in any other city. Vindfeldt said he had no choice, blaming the national redistribution scheme known as the “equalization system,” which reallocates funds between rich and less wealthy municipalities to balance welfare services.
Pedersen acknowledged that the budget equalization changes were tough to predict, but argued that the city could have covered some of the new costs through its reserves. In fairness, the Conservatives also voted for the tax increase at the time, showing cross-party agreement that some rise was inevitable.
Where Things Stand Now
In a recent move, the entire city council voted unanimously to trim the tax rate slightly, from 24.57 to 24.50 percent next year. Yet even after that symbolic reduction, Copenhagen — right next door — still maintains a lower municipal tax rate. That point stings for many long-time Frederiksberg residents, including Pedersen, who admits that it hurts local pride more than the pocketbook.
The financial debate between the two Michaels has, in the end, exposed how blurred political messaging can become in local Danish politics. As both sides fight to define “responsible management,” voters in Frederiksberg are left to decide which Michael’s version of fiscal truth they trust the most.
Sources and References
The Danish Dream: Danish local elections see half of voters still undecided
DR: Fordrejer borgmesteren sandheden? Beskyldningerne fyger i kampen om Frederiksberg
