Former Danish MP Peter Skaarup has published an open job appeal on LinkedIn, after 28 years in national politics ended when he lost his seat at the March 2026 election.
DR reported on September 12 that the 62-year-old is now looking for work outside Christiansborg. In a story published by DR, he describes himself as a jobseeker after nearly three decades in the Folketing.
In the LinkedIn post, Skaarup poses with a cup of coffee and invites contacts to get in touch. He writes that he is curious whether anyone sees an interesting opportunity where his profile could be relevant.
Skaarup was first elected to the Danish parliament in 1998 for Dansk Folkeparti. For many years he formed the party’s top leadership together with Pia Kjærsgaard and Kristian Thulesen Dahl.
In 2022 he moved to Danmarksdemokraterne, where he became the party’s parliamentary group chairman. At the election in March he fell just short of the votes needed for re-election. According to DR, the party’s mandate in Sjællands Storkreds went to Sussie Jessen instead.
Speaking on DR’s radio program P1 Morgen, Skaarup said the situation felt a little unusual. He listed his network, his political understanding and his ability to navigate complex agendas as the main items on his CV.
No job outside Christiansborg since the 1980s
DR notes that Skaarup has not held a job outside parliament for 36 years. His last position was in 1984, when he worked for six years as a technical consultant in DSB’s travel agency division.
He told DR that he can set aside his political opinions for the right job. He described being able to work professionally toward a specific goal and create something he is happy to get up for in the morning.
Through most of his political career, Skaarup campaigned for a strict immigration policy and for stronger elderly care. He said he is now curious about how his experience leading groups, such as a parliamentary secretariat, can be used elsewhere.
Where that will be remains open. He told DR that the sector and the job label are less important than finding work he can care about as much as being an MP.
Skaarup said he can readily imagine becoming a salaried employee again. For now, according to DR, he is treating his future as an open book and hoping to drink a lot of coffee.
