Kim Christiansen and Pia Adelsteen, the former political couple from the Danish People’s Party (Dansk Folkeparti), have decided to sell their restaurant, Aporta, located in Mariager, North Jutland. The reason behind their decision is their desire to step back a little; Christiansen is 67 years old, and Adelsteen is 60. Their restaurant, which gained national attention in 2019 due to a controversial traffic agreement, has now found a new owner.

The contentious traffic agreement emerged when Christiansen, serving as the transportation spokesperson for the Danish People’s Party, advocated for a bypass around Mariager. The project, costing 377 million Danish kroner (approximately $57 million), faced local skepticism as the necessity for the bypass was questioned. A survey conducted by TV 2, a Danish television station, indicated that only four trucks passed through the town daily, and an expert assessed that there was no existing need for the bypass. Concerns arose about potential conflicts of interest, as the proposal could have benefitted Christiansen personally, given Aporta’s central location in the town.

After Christiansen was not re-elected in 2019, the subsequent Social Democratic (Socialdemokratiet) government chose to abandon the bypass project. Now, Sandra-Elizabeth Sabillon Madrid has taken over the restaurant Aporta. Christiansen explained to TV 2 Nord, another regional news outlet, that the new owner’s immediate plan is to continue with the existing concept while considering possible adjustments and new ideas along the way. Aporta, recognized as a classic lunch restaurant, is set to enter a new era with Sabillon Madrid at the helm.