With less than a week until Denmark’s local elections, Copenhagen’s Technical and Environmental Mayor Line Barfod faces criticism over a potential conflict of interest after her housing cooperative received millions in public renovation funds.
Possible Violation of Administrative Law
The controversy centers on a housing cooperative on Nørrebrogade, where Line Barfod and her husband live. The building underwent an extensive renovation partly financed by Copenhagen Municipality through its urban renewal fund. This fund supports renovation projects for private rental properties, co-ops, and owner associations throughout the city.
According to a review by Danish public broadcaster DR, Barfod’s own department, the Technical and Environmental Administration, handled her building’s funding request before she declared herself ineligible to take part due to a potential conflict of interest. Legal experts now argue that this could violate Denmark’s Administrative Act, specifically section 3, which states that no public official may handle cases where impartiality could be questioned.
Millions in Public Support
The housing association, chaired by Barfod’s husband, eventually received nearly 2.4 million Danish kroner, the equivalent of about $340,000, in municipal funds. These grants typically help cover renovations such as roof repairs, facade work, window replacements, and energy efficiency improvements. Residents are expected to co-finance part of the cost, while the municipality pays the rest.
According to internal documents DR obtained, officials from Barfod’s department started discussing possible issues of impartiality in August 2023, only after Barfod had herself informed them of a potential problem in late July. At that point, however, municipal staff had already inspected the property and had advanced it through the funding process while rejecting other applicants.
Reactions from Legal Scholars
Frederik Waage, a professor of administrative law at the University of Southern Denmark, concluded that the city administration should have flagged the conflict much earlier. Another expert, Roger Buch, said the situation could easily be seen as inconsistent with administrative law because the mayor’s own department processed a case that directly affected her household.
On the other hand, Sten Bønsing from the University of Copenhagen said the mistake appeared procedural rather than substantive. He agreed that the declaration came too late but noted that the actual decision-making seemed to follow objective criteria used for all applications.
Barfod’s Explanation and Response
Barfod emphasized that she was unaware her building association had applied for municipal renovation support until her husband mentioned it during the summer of 2023. She said she immediately notified her department and declared herself ineligible. She also stated that the decisions on who received funding were made objectively and fairly.
Barfod’s case has drawn particular attention because she is the lead candidate for the left-wing Red-Green Alliance (Enhedslisten) and is considered a strong contender for Copenhagen’s next Lord Mayor. The issue comes at a sensitive moment, as Denmark’s local and regional elections are set to take place soon, a vote that could significantly influence national politics according to recent analysis.
Municipality Defends Its Procedure
In a written response, the Technical and Environmental Administration stated it could not assess the conflict issue before receiving explicit information about it from Barfod. The department said it acted immediately once informed and maintained that all evaluations were handled according to the same objective criteria applied to every application.
Despite the criticism, Barfod continues to support the city’s renovation funding program. She argued that residents in her housing association should not be denied access to public funds because of her political role. She described energy renovation as an important environmental measure that benefits Copenhageners citywide.
Wider Political Context
The timing of the case adds pressure in the final stretch of Denmark’s local campaign season, where voter uncertainty remains high. Polls show nearly half of Danish voters are still undecided, according to a report by The Danish Dream. For Barfod, the outcome of this election could determine whether she ascends to one of the most influential offices in the country’s capital.
For ordinary voters, the situation highlights the importance of transparency in local governance and the fine line public officials must walk between personal life and professional duties. Whether the case affects Barfod’s electoral prospects will likely depend on how much credibility she retains as the campaign closes.
Sources and References
DR: Line Barfod Hit by Conflict-of-Interest Case
DR: Local and Regional Elections Coverage
The Danish Dream: Denmark’s Local Elections Could Reshape National Politics
The Danish Dream: Half of Voters Still Undecided in Local Elections
