The lead candidate for the Danish political party Alternativet, Jan Kristoffersen, remains unfazed by the current polls leading up to the European Parliament election. Despite several polls indicating that the party is unlikely to secure a seat, Kristoffersen solely focuses on the final result. “I don’t think anything. I’m only interested in the result. That’s it,” he states. According to measurements by DR and TV 2, Alternativet stands at 3.3 and 2.4 percent respectively, far from the numbers needed to guarantee a seat. Nevertheless, party leader Franciska Rosenkilde keeps hope alive. “Hope is bright green at Alternativet. We have surprised before. So, I look forward to seeing the result,” she says.
To secure a seat, a significant increase in the party’s percentage of support is required. Kristoffersen has led a different campaign, using aliases such as “Gandalf” and “Jannabis” on posters. One of Alternativet’s main priorities is a green agricultural sector, aiming for a new agricultural subsidy that promotes sustainable and small farms over large industrial actors. Besides his role as a consultant at Deloitte, Kristoffersen has also performed as a singer, holding concerts during the election campaign.
When asked if anything could have been done differently in the campaign, he dismisses the idea. “No. Why? Because of an exit poll?” He attaches no significance to speculations and hypothetical scenarios. “I don’t engage in ‘what ifs.’ I don’t want to waste time, energy, and resources on that.” Nevertheless, Kristoffersen is satisfied with the campaign efforts so far, believing it has been beneficial for the party. “We have already gained a lot from the campaign. We have received a lot of positive energy from it. So, that’s great,” he states. Franciska Rosenkilde shares this view and notes that the party has used humor to engage with voters.
“We have had a really, really good campaign. We have used humor a lot in this campaign to get other people talking about politics. I think that has been very successful,” she concludes. Alternativet has yet to have representatives in the European Parliament, but they look forward to seeing what the election result will bring.