Foreign Minister's Son Hired by Firm Seeking Danish Frigate Deal Amid Nepotism Claims

Bergur Løkke Rasmussen, son of Denmark's Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen, has been hired as an advisor by the British defense company Babcock. His role will involve managing contacts with Danish politicians and ministries as Babcock vies for a lucrative contract to supply new frigates to the Danish defense forces. The deal is valued at up to 10 billion Danish kroner per ship.

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I have responsibility for public affairs. That means the contacts to the political level, ministers, advisors, the defense committee and all that.

Rasmussen, who is also a member of the Moderaterne party and a city council member in Helsingør, runs his own consultancy firm, Spånberg Løkke, which now lists Babcock as a client. He told TV 2 that his responsibilities include "public affairs," meaning "contacts with the political level, ministers, advisors, the defense committee, and all that."

The potential frigate purchase would require approval from the government's coordination committee, which includes Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen. Ultimately, a cross-party defense committee must decide on the supplier.

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pure nepotism

Several members of this committee have expressed criticism to TV 2 regarding the foreign minister's son advising one of the competing suppliers. Alex Ahrendtsen, defense spokesperson for the Danish People's Party, labeled the situation "pure nepotism." Eva Flyvholm, defense spokesperson for the Red-Green Alliance, stated it is "not okay" given Rasmussen's "central position in the Moderaterne."

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not okay

However, according to Professor of Administrative Law Frederik Waage from the University of Southern Denmark, there is no legal basis to challenge the appointment. While he believes it could become a "political problem due to the suspicion of nepotism," he asserts it remains "on the right side of the law in terms of disqualification." Bergur Løkke Rasmussen has stated he does not discuss his private work with his father and denies any conflict of interest.

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a political problem because of the suspicion of nepotism, but it stays on the right side of the law in relation to disqualification.