In an emotional atmosphere, the Conservatives (De Konservative) today began their extraordinary national council in Herning, where the party both remembered the late chairman Søren Pape Poulsen and elected Mona Juul as his successor. The tragic event that led to Pape’s sudden death on March 2nd after a stroke has plunged the party into a period of mourning and reflection. Søren Vandsø, the Conservative Party’s general secretary, opened the national council with a call to members to transform grief into a lasting memory of Pape. “We must rise again. We must move from grief to memory,” Vandsø told those in attendance at the MCH Herning Congress Center. Following the opening speech, a video of highlights from Pape’s career was shown, prompting standing ovations from the many participants.
Mette Abildgaard, the political spokesperson for the Conservatives, also addressed the gathering and reflected on the loss of Pape. “There is a time before and after Pape’s death. He was taken from us far too early,” said Abildgaard, who was present when Pape collapsed during a meeting of the party’s executive committee. Today’s events mark an important shift for the party, which now looks forward under the leadership of Mona Juul, who was elected as the new chairman. Her leadership is expected to guide the party through this transitional period, focusing on preserving Pape’s visions and values.