Last week, Minister of Environment Magnus Heunicke appointed 15 new board chairmen for the upcoming nature national parks, four of whom are former or current local politicians from Venstre (Liberal Party) or Socialdemokratiet (Social Democratic Party). These politicians, with varying experiences from other sectors, will receive an annual fee of 40,000 Danish kroner to participate in approximately four board meetings. Criticism from the opposition has not been lacking. Mette Abildgaard, environmental spokesperson for Det Konservative Folkeparti (Conservative People’s Party), expressed concern about the selection of board chairmen: “With so many talented green enthusiasts in Denmark, it should not have been difficult to find more qualified candidates,” she said, adding that it “smells of favoritism.” Among those appointed are Hanne Bæk Olsen, former Social Democratic mayor in Silkeborg, and Lisa Kronborg Sørensen, local chairman for Venstre in Jammerbugt, both of whom have management experience but limited knowledge of nature conservation. Katrine Fruelund, former handball player and municipal council member in Randers for Venstre, and Daniel Boalth Petersen, a Social Democratic lawyer’s clerk and municipal council member in Helsingør, are also on the list. These appointments have raised concerns for both Det Konservative Folkeparti and SF, which criticize the lack of party influence on the appointments, which could lead to politicization of the parks’ operations. Minister of Environment Magnus Heunicke explains that the appointments are based on a range of qualifications, including management experience and connection to the local area, highlighting the importance of bringing together local voices to ensure that local desires and considerations are heard. The list of appointed board chairmen can be seen on the Ministry of Environment’s website.

Read the danish version here