Venstre is publicly split ahead of the final vote on a new Danish fertilizer law, after party veteran Søren Gade said he will vote against the party line.
The bill, known as the gødskningsloven, faces its third reading and final passage in the Folketing on Thursday, September 3, 2026. DR reports that most of Venstre‘s parliamentary group will vote in favor, while several of the party’s mayors in Midt- og Vestjylland are strongly opposed.
Søren Gade is Speaker of the Folketing and Venstre’s longest-serving member. He told TV Midtvest that he will vote against the bill, citing his concern for Midt- og Vestjylland. The regional broadcaster was first to report the break, and said it prompted support from local party figures in western Jutland.
The law requires agriculture to regulate its use of fertilizer and thereby limit nitrogen leaching into the marine environment. According to DR, it was agreed by the former SVM government and the parties behind the green tripartite deal, which includes Venstre.
Thomas Danielsen, deputy chair of Venstre’s parliamentary group, told TV Midtvest that the group decided it gains the most influence by voting for the bill and remaining in the negotiations. He said that voting against would mean losing that influence. Berlingske reported on August 27 that the party will back the law despite the internal disagreement.
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Mayors want the law delayed
Niels Jørgen Pedersen, mayor of Thisted Kommune, told DR that this is not the Venstre he knows. He said he hopes the parliamentary group reconsiders and votes against the nitrogen legislation. He also warned that farmers could react by giving up.
Pedersen said families running farms had first been shamed during an election campaign and were now being hit by the nitrogen rules. Marianne Bredal, mayor of Struer Kommune, told DR she finds it regrettable that the government is putting the green tripartite at risk by rushing.
Bredal is asking for the law to be postponed by one year, until after next harvest. She said farmers need a reasonable opportunity to plan their production. Danielsen told TV Midtvest that Venstre is working to pull the chestnuts out of the fire, and hopes the outcome will favor the party.
In a written comment to DR, Venstre’s environment and nature spokesperson Marie Bjerre acknowledged that the regulation appears to hit unintentionally hard. She said the party will nevertheless remain at the negotiating table. Per Bjerre, Venstre joined the green tripartite because it wants to take responsibility for the water environment.
Bjerre added that nitrogen discharges must fall, but in a way that still allows a sustainable farming sector. She said she hopes the other parties will listen to the concerns raised and help find solutions. Ekstra Bladet reported on August 26 that Gade called the new fertilizer law foolish and confirmed his vote against it.
