2021 Copenhagen City Council election

Copenhagen Municipality is the largest municipality in Denmark. It has in its history been a strong area for parties of the red bloc. In the 2019 Danish general election, it became the municipality where the bloc received the highest % of votes.[1] It is different from other municipalities as it has a total of 7 mayor positions. The biggest and most important one is the Lord Mayor, which has been held by the Social Democrats since 1938.[b]

2021 Copenhagen City Council election
← 2017 16 November 2021 2025 →

All 55 seats to the Copenhagen City Council
28 seats needed for a majority
Turnout312,691 (60.0%)
Decrease 1.9pp
  First party Second party Third party
 
Ø
A
C
Party Red–Green Alliance Social Democrats Conservatives
Last election 11 seats, 18.4% 15 seats, 27.6% 3 seats, 5.6%
Seats won 15 10 8
Seat change Increase 4 Decrease 5 Increase 5
Popular vote 75,698 52,874 40,172
Percentage 24.6% 17.2% 13.1%
Swing Increase 6.2% Decrease 10.4% Increase 7.5%

  Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party
 
B
F
V
Party Danish Social Liberal Party Green Left Venstre
Last election 5 seats, 8.9% 5 seats, 8.3% 5 seats, 7.9%
Seats won 6 6 5
Seat change Increase 1 Increase 1 0
Popular vote 36,688 33,824 23,578
Percentage 11.9% 11.0% 7.7%
Swing Increase 3.0% Increase 2.7% Decrease 0.2%

  Seventh party Eighth party Ninth party
 
Å
I
D
Party The Alternative Liberal Alliance New Right
Last election 6 seats, 10.5% 2 seats, 4.0% 0 seats, 1.0%
Seats won 2 1 1
Seat change Decrease 4 Decrease 1 Increase 1
Popular vote 8,988 8,428 6,455
Percentage 2.9% 2.7% 2.1%
Swing Decrease 7.6% Decrease 1.3% Increase 1.1%

Result in each polling area

Lord Mayor before election

Lars Weiss[a]
Social Democrats

Lord Mayor after election

Sophie Hæstorp Andersen
Social Democrats

In the 2017 election, the Social Democrats had won 14 seats, and had become the largest party. It had then been Frank Jensen from the party who had won the Lord Mayor's position, going into his third term.[2]

In 2020, Jensen was accused of having sexually harassed a woman from the Social Democratic Youth of Denmark in 2012. He eventually replied in text - ”I'm very sad about what happended [sic], and I want to apologize for this happening in our party. It's not an acceptable behaviour, neither then or today. On behalf of the party – sorry Maria!!!”. Three days later he would step down as Lord Mayor.

Lars Weiss would become working Lord Mayor following this.[3] He would however announce that he would not contest the 2021 election, and that he would only be the Lord Mayor until the next election.[4] Instead Sophie Hæstorp Andersen, who was chair of the Capital Region of Denmark at the time, would be the only one standing to be the Social Democrats Lord Mayor candidate.[5]

In November 2020, an opinion poll was released showing the Social Democrats as the largest party by a slim margin of 1.6%.[6] The Social Democrats had previously always been the largest party in the municipality. In October 2021, Epinion released an opinion poll that had the Red–Green Alliance, who had become the largest party in Copenhagen Municipality in the 2019 Danish general election,[7] as the largest party for the municipality election.[8] Gallup released an opinion poll 17 days later, and four days prior to the election, that also had the Red–Green Alliance as the largest party.[9]

In the election result, the Red–Green Alliance would indeed manage to become the largest party, with a margin of 7.4%. They gained four seats, while the Social Democrats lost five. Despite this, it proved hard for the Red–Green Alliance to actually win the Lord Mayor's position. Right-wing and centre-right parties Liberal Alliance and Venstre had said prior to the election they would be ready to support Sophie Hæstorp Andersen as the new mayor, to prevent the Red–Green Alliance from winning the position. Following the result, the leader of the Red–Green Alliance reacted with joy, saying she hoped that the party could secure the Lord Mayor's position with a green majority consisting of themselves, Danish Social Liberal Party, the Green Left and The Alternative.[10] Eventually however, it was announced that Sophie Hæstorp Andersen would be the new mayor. Line Barfod from the Red–Green Alliance joined the agreement, citing that the Danish Social Liberal Party would not support her, and that the Social Democrats would rather work with the right-wing parties than support her. To prevent the former from happening, she decided that the Red–Green Alliance should be a part of the agreement making Sophie Hæstorp Andersen the new mayor.[11] In return, the Red–Green Alliance would get 2 of the 6 minor mayor positions.[12][13]

Electoral system

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For elections to Danish municipalities, a number varying from 9 to 31 are chosen to be elected to the municipal council. However Copenhagen Municipality has, as the only municipality, a city council instead of a municipal council. In the city council 55 seats are contested.

The seats are then allocated using the D'Hondt method and a closed list proportional representation.

Unlike in Danish General Elections, in elections to city councils, electoral alliances are allowed.

Electoral alliances

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Source[14]

Electoral Alliance 1

Party Political Position
Social Democrats Centre-left
Danish Social Liberal Party Centre to Centre-left

Electoral Alliance 2

Party Political Position
Conservatives Centre-right
Liberal Alliance Centre-right to Right-wing
Christian Democrats Centre to Centre-right
Danish People's Party Right-wing
Venstre Centre-right
Det Demokratiske Parti Local Party

Electoral Alliance 3

Party Political Position
Copenhagen Local Party
Kærlighedspartiet (Regnbuefolket / Local Party

Electoral Alliance 4

Party Political Position
Vegan Party Centre-left to Left-wing
Grøn Omstilling Local Party
Klimapartiet Momentum Local Party
The Alternative Centre-left to Left-wing

Electoral Alliance 5

Party Political Position
Christiania-Listen Local Party
Green Left Centre-left to Left-wing
Cannabis Party Cannabis legalisation
Kommunisterne Local Party
Communist Party Far-left
Rolig Revolution Local Party
Bæredygtigt samfund Local Party
Red–Green Alliance Left-wing to Far-left

Results by polling station

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Polling Station A B C D F G I K O V Ø Å Others
% % % % % % % % % % % % %
1. Østerbro 16.1 13.5 19.6 1.8 10.4 0.5 3.4 0.4 1.4 8.9 18.6 2.6 2.8
1. Nord 15.8 12.0 21.8 2.3 9.0 0.2 3.8 0.4 2.0 11.6 15.7 2.3 3.2
1. Syd 15.6 14.0 18.4 1.6 10.8 0.4 2.8 0.4 1.0 8.4 21.1 2.4 3.1
1. Vest 18.5 11.8 15.1 2.3 10.8 0.7 2.6 0.7 2.0 7.8 21.3 2.5 3.9
1. Nordvest 18.5 13.0 16.5 2.4 10.6 0.8 3.2 0.3 1.9 8.4 18.5 2.5 3.4
1. Øst 13.0 13.0 23.1 2.2 8.2 0.4 5.7 0.3 1.0 13.8 14.0 2.3 2.8
2. Sundbyvester 22.1 9.1 9.5 3.1 10.2 0.5 2.2 0.4 4.0 6.7 25.5 2.7 3.9
2. Nord 16.3 12.2 10.8 2.2 10.6 0.4 2.1 0.5 2.2 6.7 28.7 3.2 4.0
2. Syd 14.8 12.7 13.8 2.8 9.8 0.9 4.4 0.4 1.5 13.7 17.7 2.9 4.6
2. Vest 14.2 11.6 16.6 2.4 9.5 0.4 3.4 0.2 1.3 11.9 21.8 3.1 3.5
2. Øst 16.6 11.4 9.4 2.5 11.6 0.5 2.7 0.5 2.9 7.0 28.0 3.6 3.3
3. Indre By 11.9 13.4 19.0 2.0 8.7 0.7 4.1 0.2 0.9 8.4 23.7 3.0 4.0
3. Nord 13.1 13.5 22.9 1.6 8.8 0.6 3.4 0.4 1.4 10.0 19.3 2.3 2.7
3. Syd 14.8 10.0 11.3 1.8 8.6 0.7 2.4 0.3 1.2 6.1 33.4 4.4 5.1
3. Øst 12.9 12.1 23.4 2.3 8.6 0.5 4.8 0.2 1.0 11.2 17.8 2.2 3.0
4. Sundbyøster 17.1 11.4 12.2 2.8 11.3 0.8 3.2 0.3 2.9 8.7 22.6 3.0 3.6
4. Nord 17.0 11.2 10.7 2.1 11.6 0.7 2.8 0.4 2.7 6.6 26.2 3.5 4.4
4. Syd 20.7 9.3 11.9 2.7 12.1 0.4 2.1 0.5 3.2 7.3 23.3 2.8 3.6
4. Øst 19.8 11.0 13.8 2.6 13.5 0.5 2.7 0.4 2.5 8.9 19.0 2.7 2.4
5. Nørrebro 14.4 11.6 6.3 0.9 12.9 1.0 1.0 0.6 1.3 4.5 36.8 4.0 4.8
5. Nord 12.5 14.6 8.0 1.1 12.9 0.7 2.2 0.4 1.0 6.0 31.8 3.7 5.3
5. Syd 12.7 12.9 9.3 1.2 10.1 0.6 1.3 0.4 1.4 5.0 37.5 3.0 4.7
5. Øst 12.0 14.6 10.3 0.9 10.9 0.6 2.5 0.2 0.7 6.4 32.3 4.3 4.4
5. Vest 14.7 11.6 8.5 1.1 13.1 0.8 1.6 0.2 1.3 5.5 34.5 3.4 3.6
5. Nordvest 10.8 14.2 6.4 1.0 13.9 0.6 1.5 0.2 0.9 4.5 37.2 4.0 4.8
5. Nørrebrohallen 12.8 13.3 5.9 1.0 13.0 0.8 1.9 0.3 1.1 4.7 36.4 4.0 4.8
6. Bispebjerg 14.7 12.3 7.1 2.0 11.6 0.8 1.9 0.4 2.1 5.1 33.2 3.9 4.9
6. Nord 24.3 9.4 10.6 2.4 11.0 1.0 1.6 0.8 3.0 5.8 24.3 2.0 3.9
6. Øst 27.0 9.4 10.5 3.4 11.4 0.6 2.4 0.4 3.2 5.3 20.6 1.9 3.9
6. Syd 16.0 12.3 6.8 1.9 11.3 0.6 2.1 0.4 1.7 5.2 33.4 3.6 4.7
6. Vest 18.9 10.8 8.0 2.5 11.8 0.8 1.0 0.6 2.5 4.6 30.8 2.6 5.1
7. Brønshøj 25.3 9.2 16.2 2.3 11.8 0.7 2.1 0.4 2.6 5.3 19.5 1.9 2.7
7. Nord 23.8 12.2 5.3 1.7 10.8 0.4 0.7 0.6 3.1 2.0 33.4 1.4 4.8
7. Rødkilde 21.1 11.6 13.1 2.8 11.9 0.6 2.4 0.6 2.5 7.2 20.8 2.4 3.0
7. Øst 25.8 9.4 11.5 1.9 12.4 0.6 1.4 0.4 2.6 4.4 24.8 1.9 2.9
7. Vest 29.9 8.4 12.0 2.1 10.5 0.4 1.5 0.5 4.8 4.5 20.9 1.2 3.2
7. Nordvest 30.3 7.9 15.2 2.9 11.2 0.4 1.2 0.5 3.6 4.8 17.3 1.5 3.0
7. Katrinedal 21.2 11.4 14.4 2.8 11.2 0.4 3.0 0.3 2.0 8.7 19.4 2.7 2.5
7. Kirkebjerg 22.5 11.0 14.6 2.8 12.0 0.4 2.3 0.5 2.4 7.4 19.5 2.0 2.7
7. Vanløse 22.2 10.6 14.8 2.6 11.1 0.6 3.0 0.7 2.9 8.2 18.9 1.5 3.0
8. Valby 20.2 11.1 14.0 3.1 13.1 0.4 2.7 0.3 2.0 8.8 18.6 2.6 3.1
8. Nord 20.0 12.1 13.8 2.0 12.0 0.6 2.6 0.5 2.0 8.8 20.2 2.7 2.8
8. Syd 22.3 12.0 13.6 2.6 10.8 0.5 3.2 0.3 2.4 9.8 16.9 2.3 3.2
8. Vest 24.4 9.6 12.2 3.2 11.7 0.8 2.2 0.8 4.3 7.7 17.2 2.2 3.7
8. Sydøst 21.8 11.2 9.9 3.0 11.2 0.5 2.7 0.4 2.2 7.3 22.9 2.5 4.4
8. Midt 18.5 12.3 14.7 2.5 11.2 0.5 3.5 0.5 2.1 9.0 19.4 2.3 3.6
9. Vesterbro 14.6 11.6 9.4 1.0 13.5 0.6 1.8 0.1 1.2 5.1 33.1 4.4 3.7
9. Nord 13.0 14.3 10.8 1.3 12.2 0.4 2.4 0.2 0.8 6.2 30.3 4.0 4.0
9. Syd 20.9 6.8 5.7 3.4 9.0 0.6 1.7 0.4 3.6 4.3 34.1 2.9 6.6
9. Øst 13.0 13.1 11.3 1.2 12.0 0.8 2.6 0.4 0.9 7.5 29.0 4.5 3.6
9. Vest 14.5 14.3 12.1 1.2 11.7 0.4 2.8 0.3 1.1 7.2 27.2 3.3 3.9
9. Midt 14.8 11.0 7.0 2.3 12.2 0.7 2.6 0.4 1.7 6.7 31.9 3.6 5.1
9. Sydhavn 13.7 15.6 18.9 2.1 8.0 0.7 5.8 0.2 0.9 13.9 14.7 2.8 2.6

Results

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PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Copenhagen City Council
Red–Green Alliance75,69824.6415+4
Social Democrats52,87417.2110-5
Conservatives40,17213.088+5
Danish Social Liberal Party36,68811.946+1
Green Left33,82411.016+1
Venstre23,5787.6850
The Alternative8,9882.932-4
Liberal Alliance8,4282.741-1
New Right6,4552.101+1
Danish People's Party5,9071.921-2
Klimapartiet Momentum[c]2,9670.970New
Vegan Party1,8390.600New
Danmark for Alle[c]1,4260.460New
Københavnerlisten1,3810.450New
Communist Party1,2350.4000
Christian Democrats1,1870.3900
Freedom List1,1340.370New
Cannabis Party5730.1900
Kærlighedspartiet4900.1600
Rolig Revolution[c]4450.140New
Feministisk Initiativ[c]4050.1300
Bæredygtigt samfund[c]3660.120New
Kommunisterne[c]3520.110New
Christiania-Listen[c]3250.1100
Grøn Omstilling[c]2330.080New
Det Demokratiske Parti[c]1440.050New
Copenhagen760.020New
Total307,190100.00550
Valid votes307,19098.24
Invalid votes9700.31
Blank votes4,5311.45
Total votes312,691100.00
Registered voters/turnout521,38759.97
Source: KMD

Notes

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  1. ^ Frank Jensen became mayor following the 2017 election, but stepped down in October 2020
  2. ^ Green Left had also held it, but only one day - from the 25th October 2004 to the 26th October 2004
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i Local party in Copenhagen

References

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  1. ^ "FVKOM: Folketingsvalg efter valgresultat og kommuner | Nyheder". statistikbanken (in Danish). Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  2. ^ "Se, hvem der bliver borgmester i de seks største byer | Nyheder". dr.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  3. ^ "Lars Weiss bliver fungerende overborgmester i København | Nyheder". jyllands-posten (in Danish). Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  4. ^ "Lars Weiss vil ikke være overborgmester | Nyheder". altinget (in Danish). Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  5. ^ "Sophie Hæstorp Andersen bliver Socialdemokratiets kandidat til overborgmesterposten i København | Nyheder". newsoresund (in Danish). Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  6. ^ "Måling: Næsten dødt løb mellem Socialdemokratiet og Enhedslisten i København | Nyheder". altinget (in Danish). Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  7. ^ "FVKOM: Folketingsvalg efter valgresultat og kommuner | Nyheder". statistikbanken (in Danish). Retrieved 5 February 2023.
  8. ^ "Måling: Enhedslisten overhaler Socialdemokratiet i København | Nyheder". altinget (in Danish). Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  9. ^ "Ny meningsmåling om København kaldes »dramatisk" og "vild«. Her er, hvad den siger om byens fremtid | Nyheder". berlingske (in Danish). Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  10. ^ "Historisk valgsejr til Enhedslisten i København: »Det er jo fuldstændigt overvældende« | Nyheder". berlingske (in Danish). Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  11. ^ "Hæstorp bliver overborgmester i København | Nyheder". politiken (in Danish). Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  12. ^ "Enhedslisten fik kanonvalg men ville gerne have haft flere borgmesterposter | Nyheder". jyllandsposten. (in Danish). Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  13. ^ "Borgmestre i Københavns Kommune | Nyheder". kk (in Danish). Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  14. ^ "Valgene til kommunalbestyrelser og regionsråd den 16. november 2021 | Nyheder" (PDF). dst (in Danish). Retrieved 28 January 2023.