Party defector backs Middelfart mayor accused of breaking deal

Venstre mayor Anders Møllegård has not broken the agreement that brought him to power in Middelfart, says Ulla Sørensen, the former Social Democrat whose party switch secured his majority, DR reports.

The unusual alliance that enabled Venstre to take the mayor’s office from the Social Democrats is now under strain. Enhedslisten, the Denmark Democrats, the Alternative and the Liberal Alliance accuse Møllegård of abandoning several agreements he signed.

One of the disputed commitments was to replace the municipality’s current chief executive as soon as possible.

Møllegård has rejected that interpretation, saying the signed document was provisional and that the subsequent coalition agreement was the final deal.

Sørensen led the negotiations after switching from the Social Democrats to Venstre following the 2025 municipal election. Her move tipped the balance and was decisive in making Møllegård mayor, ending the Social Democrats’ control of Middelfart for the first time in 100 years.

Asked whether the agreement was binding, Sørensen said it was “at least what we understood and worked from”.

She said she had also understood that the municipality should appoint a new chief executive after the election, and that the document was binding. Nevertheless, she defended Møllegård.

“No, I do not believe that. He has tried everything he could and wanted to do what was best for the municipality and have a broad coalition,” Sørensen said.

“We have to remember that there are many things to familiarise yourself with as a new mayor. Anders has never known what it means to work in a municipal administration, so there has been a great deal of work involved in learning what the municipality is,” she said.