Danish poll: 67% oppose SF leader's controversial advisor hire

A significant majority of Danes, nearly 67 percent, disapprove of the Socialist People's Party (SF) leader Pia Olsen Dyhr's decision to hire Thomas Nystrøm as a special advisor, according to a new poll. Nystrøm had previously left SF six years ago following multiple accusations of harassment where he was identified as the perpetrator.

The public's strong negative reaction was reflected in the Voxmeter poll, commissioned by Ritzau. Only 12.9 percent of respondents agreed with Dyhr's decision, while 6.2 percent were undecided and 14 percent offered a neutral stance. The controversy intensified when Lotte Kofoed, an SF councilor in Frederiksberg Municipality and one of the individuals who had experienced harassment by Nystrøm, publicly criticized the appointment.

Despite Dyhr's defense of the hiring, emphasizing Nystrøm's apologies and behavioral changes since his departure from SF, the public outcry led to Nystrøm's resignation just days after his appointment. He announced his decision on Facebook, citing the intense focus and debate as detrimental to his family and the party's work.

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It has been some very violent days for me and my family, and the debate about my employment is now overshadowing SF's work so much that I have chosen to stop as a special advisor.

The poll also touched upon broader attitudes toward workplace harassment. A majority of respondents (63.4 percent) believe that consequences for individuals who sexually harass colleagues are generally too lenient. Furthermore, 60.5 percent disagreed with the idea that individuals fired for harassment should be allowed to return to the same workplace after apologizing and demonstrating changed behavior.

The incident occurred shortly before the annual political festival Folkemødet on Bornholm, where the controversy became a dominant topic of discussion. Dyhr repeatedly defended the hiring, noting that Nystrøm was technically employed by a ministry rather than SF directly, though special advisors typically follow their ministers across various engagements, including party-related events.

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I ask everyone to respect that I now need peace to take care of my family.