Socialdemokratiet’s Pernille Rosenkrantz-Theil prepares for municipal elections in Copenhagen

Despite the absence of campaign posters at Anker Jørgensens Plads in Copenhagen’s South Harbor, the upcoming municipal elections in one year are felt in the air. Socialdemokratiet’s leading candidate, Pernille Rosenkrantz-Theil, walks through the historic working-class area, guided by Mikkel Warming, chair of the public housing association AKB.

The tour is part of several visits aimed at familiarizing Rosenkrantz-Theil in her new role as the party’s top candidate. Acknowledging the challenges facing Socialdemokratiet in Copenhagen, she emphasizes her commitment to listening to the community. In recent weeks, her schedule has included visits to playgrounds, educational institutions, and other organizations.

Six months ago, few anticipated Rosenkrantz-Theil would take on such a pivotal role in the upcoming municipal elections, particularly for a party that has held the mayor’s office for a century. Following a cabinet reshuffle, where the former mayor Sophie Hæstorp Andersen succeeded Rosenkrantz-Theil as social and housing minister, she stepped up as a candidate for the mayoral position.

Socialdemokratiet faces considerable difficulties in the capital, a sentiment Rosenkrantz-Theil herself acknowledges, recognizing the party’s loss of direction. She suggests a renewed focus on urban development, questioning whether the city’s growth benefits its residents or only meets budgetary objectives.

Meanwhile, the leftist party Enhedslisten seems to be gaining ground, having received a quarter of the votes in the 2021 elections and becoming the largest party in the council, even if they did not secure the mayor’s position. Their candidate, Line Barfod, expresses hopes for a power shift in the next election, advocating for a vigorous green transition.

As the election year progresses, both parties must earn voters’ trust while negotiating potential alliances with other council members, amid signs of skepticism regarding Socialdemokratiet’s leadership prospects in the city.