Danish politics rocked by massive #MeToo drama

Morten Østergaard has resigned as head of Radikale party after admitting he inappropriately touched a colleague some ten years ago

The #MeToo movement has claimed its biggest name in Danish politics yet. 

Morten Østergaard resigned as head of Radikale party this evening after admitting he groped his party colleague Lotte Rod some ten years ago.

In mid-September, Rod came forward and revealed that she had experienced being inappropriately touched by party colleagues in the past. 

She didn’t name anyone, but said she had passed on a name to the party head, which was Østergaard. 

When asked about the issue yesterday, Østergaard said that he had given the person in question a verbal warning, the case was closed and the individual should not be denied a potential ministerial post in the future because of their actions. 

Now it turns out that it was he himself who had touched Rod inappropriately.

“I’ve let down my group and thus my party and the public because I have tried to avoid admitting it [touching Rod inappropriately] to people other than Lotte. I can therefore no longer legitimately continue as the political leader of Radikale,” Østergaard wrote on Facebook.

READ ALSO: Danish foreign minister apologises for sleeping with 15-year-old girl in 2008

A vocal hypocrite
What is even more interesting is that Østergaard was recently very outspoken about the affair involving foreign minister Jeppe Kofod sleeping with a 15-year-old some 12 years ago.

Responding to the Kofod incident earlier this week, Østergaard maintained that Kofod’s actions back then should never have warranted a ministerial position.

Østergaard, who has been replaced by Sofie Carsten Nielsen as head of Radikale following a seven-hour crisis meeting this evening, said he would continue in politics despite his resignation as party head.

The news comes in the wake of hundreds of current and former female politicians signing a letter that they have been a victim of, or a witness to, sexism in Danish politics.




  • Ryanair cancels all flights to and from Billund 

    Ryanair cancels all flights to and from Billund 

    Ryanair has increased its cuts from the Billund-Aalborg route to encompass its entire operation to and from Billund Airport. The airline’s scarce communication is leaving both the airport and passengers scrambling for answers.

  • What do Danes do for “Vinterferie”?

    What do Danes do for “Vinterferie”?

    As tradition has it, many Danes take a week off for Vinterferie next week. Or the week after. It’s a bit confusing, especially since Christmas and New Year’s Holiday are not far away. What’s going on?

  • The educational options for internationals in Denmark

    The educational options for internationals in Denmark

    Denmark offers free public education, but private schools and universities for non-EU students require tuition. Language is a barrier, with international schools available for children and limited English-taught university programs. In 2024, Denmark expanded university seats for internationals and introduced an HF-international program in Aarhus.

  • Aarhus Gymnasium is launching Denmark’s first HF program for internationals

    Aarhus Gymnasium is launching Denmark’s first HF program for internationals

    Aarhus Gymnasium is launching Denmark’s first HF-international program in August, offering young adult internationals an alternative to IB programs with a focus on career-oriented education and Danish language learning. Unlike IB, it reduces academic pressure while providing access to vocational schools and professional bachelor’s degrees

  • Top Danish companies report strong financial performance

    Top Danish companies report strong financial performance

    Some of Denmark’s leading companies reported solid financial results for 2024, with Lundbeck, Demant, and Vestas seeing growth, while Pandora tackled rising production costs with price increases and cost-saving measures.

  • Greenland restricts foreign property purchases and election donations

    Greenland restricts foreign property purchases and election donations

    These days, the Greenlandic institutions are approving two new norms to restrict, reduce, or ban the possibility for foreign citizens to buy real estate on the island, as well as for political parties to receive large amounts of money from foreign donors.