Newly elected Venstre MP Trine Jepsen has accused her party colleague Søren Gade of disloyal behavior after he said he will vote against the new fertilizer law that Venstre otherwise supports.
The criticism was made in a Facebook post by Jepsen, who was recently elected to the Folketing from Herning. DR reports that she describes Gade’s move as illoyal opførsel, or disloyal behavior. She writes that she may be new to politics, but will never become experienced enough to respect such conduct.
Gade confirmed on Wednesday that he intends to vote no to the fertilizer law, the gødskningslov. The bill is designed to reduce farmers’ use of fertilizer in order to protect marine life in Denmark’s fjords. Venstre’s parliamentary group backs the proposal.
According to DR, Jepsen’s main objection is the way the announcement was made. She points out that Gade went to the regional broadcaster TV Midtvest with his own position while his own group and spokesperson were still working on the case. Doing so during ongoing negotiations is, in her words, simply disloyal.
Gade’s stated reasons
Gade, a longstanding Venstre figure and Speaker of the Folketing, set out his position in an email to his local party organization in Vestjylland. AgriWatch reported on August 26 that he called the proposal foolish and without factual basis. TV Midtvest obtained the email and Gade then confirmed his no vote to the outlet.
AgriWatch also reported that Venstre’s deputy group chair, Thomas Danielsen, has pointed to the party’s internal rules. Under those rules, an MP is allowed to register reservations and vote according to personal conviction. Jepsen likewise notes that Gade of course has the right to vote no.
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The dispute comes as pressure builds inside Venstre in western Jutland. Two of the party’s mayors have joined a public appeal against the bill in its current form.
The open letter urges Venstre’s entire parliamentary group to vote against the fertilizer law as it now stands. It is signed by Holstebro Mayor Kenneth Tønning and Struer Mayor Marianne Bredal, both of Venstre. Venstre’s city council groups in Holstebro, Struer and Lemvig have also signed, along with the party’s local associations in the same three municipalities.
The proposed limits on fertilizer use would apply to Danish farmers, a core constituency for Venstre in the affected municipalities. Negotiations on the bill were still under way when Gade made his position public.
DR Nyheder states that it is working to obtain a comment from Søren Gade. No response from him to Jepsen’s criticism had been published at the time of DR’s report on Sunday.
