In a surprising turn of events, Pelle Dragsted from the political party Unity List (Enhedslisten) has issued an apology to Pia Kjærsgaard from the Danish People’s Party (Dansk Folkeparti) for his participation in an incident that took place almost 26 years ago. Back in 1998, Kjærsgaard was attacked in Nørrebro, where Dragsted and other demonstrators shouted slogans against her. The incident occurred when Kjærsgaard was on her way to a radio interview and was attacked by a man who opened the door to her taxi and hit her. She sought refuge in a nearby bank, where she hid until the police arrived. Outside the bank, Dragsted was among the demonstrators who shouted and threw objects at her. Dragsted’s apology came to light after B.T. contacted him for an interview about the incident. In a text message to Kjærsgaard, he wrote that he was part of the shouting and apologized for the environment he was a part of back then.
Kjærsgaard, who still vividly remembers the incident, expresses some surprise at the timing of the apology but also points out that she is ready to put the past behind her, although she finds it difficult to fully forgive Dragsted. This incident and the subsequent apology shed light on how political and personal conflicts can have lasting consequences, and how past actions can catch up with someone many years later. Kjærsgaard emphasizes that while she appreciates the apology, it would have been better if Dragsted had taken the initiative to talk about the incident earlier. This case also highlights the importance of dialogue and reconciliation in politics, especially when it comes to actions that have had deep personal consequences for those involved.