Danmarksdemokraterne expels third local politician in six months

Danmarksdemokraterne has expelled a third local council member in six months after Lars Westergaard voted in favor of a renewable energy project in Thisted Municipality, party leader Inger Støjberg confirmed Thursday.

Westergaard’s decisive “yes” vote on Wednesday evening secured approval for a 40-hectare solar farm and six 180-meter wind turbines in Røjkær, Thy, passing the municipal council by a 14–13 margin. Støjberg removed him from the party the following day, citing violation of its strict opposition to “iron fields”—a term used for large-scale solar and wind installations.

“This is not the first time we’ve had to exclude a council member,” Støjberg stated, emphasizing that party representatives must adhere to its “very clear red lines.”

The expulsion follows two similar cases since last November. Ole Blickfeldt was ousted after backing a left-wing mayoral candidate in Lejre Municipality despite party directives to support a center-right majority. “We made it clear before the election: if there’s a blue majority, we pursue a blue mayor,” Støjberg said at the time. Blickfeldt, who claimed no viable right-wing majority existed, called his removal “below the belt” in comments to DR.

A week after the 2025 local elections, Marie Hansen of Kalundborg was expelled for refusing to endorse a coalition agreement led by a Venstre mayoral candidate. Hansen also criticized internal party appointments, telling TV Kalundborg she “could not accept” that a fellow Danmarksdemokrat secured both a committee chairmanship and a seat on the finance board.

Westergaard, in response to his dismissal, compared the party’s leadership to “Soviet-era top-down control”—an accusation Støjberg rejected Friday. His expulsion contrasts with the party’s Viborg branch, where all four council members voted for a solar project in February without repercussions. Støjberg has since argued the cases differ in context.