In a time where political debate can often become heated and personal, the Social Democrats’ (Socialdemokratiet) Minister for Social Affairs and Housing, Pernille Rosenkrantz-Theil, is now speaking out in defense of her colleague from the Venstre party, Minister of Health Sophie Løhde. Løhde has been the subject of criticism from various sides, including the Danish People’s Party’s (Dansk Folkeparti) Mette Thiesen, who has accused Løhde of having a tough and unfair leadership style towards her employees. Thiesen has told Ekstra Bladet that she has witnessed both individual and collective reprimands from Løhde, which she has never seen the likes of with other ministers. However, Rosenkrantz-Theil disagrees with this portrayal and defends Løhde by pointing out that she does not recognize this image of the Venstre politician. “I have known Sophie from Christiansborg for many years, and I have never experienced her as anything other than accommodating and professional,” Rosenkrantz-Theil told B.T. She added that the accusations of a tough and unfair leadership style do not align with her own experiences. Rosenkrantz-Theil also reflects on Thiesen’s use of words like “coward” and “lazy” in describing Løhde, words she finds completely out of touch with reality. “It is unserious and does not contribute to a constructive political debate,” she says.
In an attempt to illustrate Løhde’s character, Rosenkrantz-Theil recounts an incident in which Løhde took into account her family obligations during a negotiation process. “It shows a side of Sophie that deserves to be highlighted, instead of the negative portrayals,” she says. Sophie Løhde herself has been reluctant to comment on Thiesen’s statements, but in a written comment to Ekstra Bladet, she has dismissed the criticism as unfounded and pointed out that Thiesen has used harsh words about her in other contexts before. This case shows how differently politicians can be perceived, depending on personal experiences and political standpoints. It emphasizes the importance of maintaining a respectful tone, even when disagreeing.