Samsø council unanimously rebukes SF chair over interference in personnel matters

A unanimous Samsø municipal council has issued sharp criticism of Ulla Holm, group chair of the Socialist People’s Party (SF), for repeatedly overstepping her authority and interfering in day-to-day administration and personnel cases, according to a legal memo obtained by DR.

The memo details multiple instances, including an attempt by Holm, as chair of the Social and Employment Committee, to join a professional meeting discussing sensitive personal data about specific residents. When the management barred her from the meeting due to the confidential nature of the information, Holm refused to leave. The meeting could only proceed after the department head summoned the chief administrative officer to remove her.

Mayor Per Urban Olsen (Conservative) described the behaviour as “unheard of” and said it had severely affected staff across several departments.

“She involves herself in matters she has no business in, especially personnel issues. You do not question people’s employment in the municipality. That is not acceptable anywhere. She has received a yellow card. This is a real expression of no confidence. It has to stop, and it has to stop now,” Olsen said.

According to the mayor, Holm has received repeated warnings and has apologised in meetings with him and the municipal director, only to continue the behaviour. All 11 council members, including two from her own party, endorsed the criticism.

If Holm does not change her conduct, the council will consider stronger political sanctions, up to and including her removal as committee chair, which requires a political majority, Olsen stated.

In a brief statement, Holm said she takes the criticism “very seriously” and intends to change her behaviour to prevent any future overreach. She added that she will work to foster a positive and constructive collaboration in the council, focused on policy rather than individuals.

The legal memo also notes that Holm sought to establish informal contact channels with employees and, in some cases, handled confidential information in ways that raise serious doubts about compliance with confidentiality obligations and basic principles of good administrative practice.

Sten Bønsing, professor of administrative law at Aalborg University, called the behaviour “completely unacceptable” and said Holm appears not to understand her role as a councillor and committee chair. While he agreed with the memo’s assessment, he noted that meaningful sanctions are difficult to impose, as a council seat can only be forfeited between elections with a prison sentence.