Danish People’s Party appoints non-member to key minority affairs committee

The Danish People’s Party has broken with convention by selecting Simon Faber, a former mayor of Flensburg and non-party member, for a seat on the Folketing’s South Schleswig Committee, DR reports.

Political spokesperson Peter Kofod defended the choice, stating Faber’s “extensive knowledge of the border region and South Schleswig” made him the strongest candidate for the role. The committee serves as the primary link between Denmark’s German minority in South Schleswig and the Folketing.

Faber, who previously worked as a consultant for the South Schleswig Association on Christiansborg for seven years, called the appointment unexpected. “I didn’t see this coming,” he said, but accepted after discussions on the committee’s work. “I won’t be starting from zero—I already understand many of the issues at hand.”