Danish politicians deny retaliating against newspaper after cancellations

Three local politicians in Lolland Municipality, Denmark, canceled their subscriptions to the Lolland-Falsters Folketidende newspaper after it published a critical article. The municipality insists these were personal decisions, not a retaliatory act against the press.

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In this case, statements have emerged that could leave the impression that the purpose was precisely to punish the press. It is important that the municipality is aware of and addresses this.

The Danish Parliamentary Ombudsman began investigating the matter in May after receiving complaints. The ombudsman's office requested further explanation from the politicians in July, as punishing the press can be a criminal offense. The investigation aims to clarify the timeline, the number of subscriptions canceled, and the underlying reasons.

The critical article, published in April, used anonymous sources to criticize the municipality's administration. Shortly after, several politicians, including Mayor Marie-Louise Brehm Nielsen, canceled their subscriptions, citing dissatisfaction with the use of anonymous sources. The ombudsman previously stated that while authorities can cancel subscriptions like any other subscriber, it must be based on objective grounds.

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It is not a valid reason if it happens to punish or pressure certain journalists or media outlets based on their news reporting in, for example, a critical article.

"In this case, statements have emerged that could leave the impression that the purpose was precisely to punish the press," stated the ombudsman. "It is important that the municipality is aware of and addresses this." He added that canceling subscriptions to punish or pressure journalists or media outlets based on their reporting is not a valid reason.

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worst of all is that some of the newspaper's journalists set aside the standards for good craftsmanship.

Comments from politicians who canceled subscriptions fueled the controversy. One council member wrote on Facebook that "worst of all is that some of the newspaper's journalists set aside the standards for good craftsmanship." Another politician stated in an internal email that the "last lack of journalistic quality was the straw that broke the camel's back." Two law professors told the Fagbladet Journalisten that canceling subscriptions for punitive reasons could violate the law.

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the last lack of journalistic quality was the straw that broke the camel's back.