Hans Østergaard, who has served as the mayor of Ringkøbing-Skjern Municipality since his election victory in 2017, has announced that he will not seek re-election in the upcoming municipal elections scheduled for November 2025. This decision was made public in a press release on Sunday evening.

The announcement comes after a lengthy summer of deep reflection, with Østergaard emphasizing that this choice was not made lightly. He elaborates that by the time of the next election, he will be 67 years old.

“When you also have a large family, there are aspects of life that I have had to neglect. I wish to prioritize these moving forward, even though politics remains a fascinating world,” Østergaard stated in his announcement. He concluded by emphasizing that his years as mayor have been exciting, but that new priorities must now take center stage.