In Randers City Council, there is great surprise and anger following the recent announcement from the Minister of Health and the Elderly, Magnus Heunicke, that the government will not provide further financial support for the clean-up after the environmental scandal at Nordic Waste in Ølst. This decision has caused a stir as it contradicts previous promises made by both the Minister of the Environment and Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. During a visit to Ølst, the Prime Minister, along with the Minister of the Environment, assured the public that the negative consequences of the environmental disaster would not affect the most vulnerable groups in Randers, including children and the elderly. These statements were made in front of rolling cameras, further intensifying the feeling of broken promises among council members.
“I am shocked that the government now seems to be backtracking,” said Rosa Lykke Yde, chair of the social committee in Randers and member of the SF (Socialist People’s Party). “It sends a very unfortunate signal that we cannot trust the promises made by our country’s leaders.” Magnus Heunicke has explained that the state has already contributed 200 million Danish kroner to the clean-up efforts and that no further funds will be granted. This decision has been met with criticism from various sides, including DF’s (Danish People’s Party) Nick Zimmermann, who labeled it as “broken promises and an outright lie” in the Parliament.
The situation puts Randers Municipality in a difficult position as they now have to find financing for the remainder of the clean-up efforts, which could lead to significant cuts in other welfare areas. This has raised concerns among council members, who fear the consequences for the municipality’s residents. The debate on the government’s handling of the situation and the future environmental and welfare implications in Randers is far from over.