Former LO deputy chair leaves Social Democrats after 36 years

Tine Aurvig-Huggenberger, who served as the deputy chair of the Danish trade union confederation LO, has announced her departure from the Social Democratic party after 36 years of membership. Her exit, which has been brewing for years, stems from a confluence of factors, she explained in an interview with DR.

A significant catalyst for her decision was the Social Democrats' 2024 reversal of a century-old principle: the refusal to accept honors, such as those bestowed by the royal house. This shift in party doctrine proved to be a breaking point for Aurvig-Huggenberger.

Adding to her disillusionment was a video featuring Ida Auken, a fellow Social Democrat, celebrating in a ministerial car. Auken's elation was over the successful proposal to appoint a dedicated priest for the Danish Parliament, an initiative that had been a long-standing goal. The Parliament has recently introduced weekly services for its members and staff, and the appointment of a permanent chaplain was agreed upon by the Parliament's leadership.

Aurvig-Huggenberger's departure highlights internal tensions within the Social Democrats regarding tradition, principles, and the party's evolving stance on societal and religious matters.

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The thing that was the last straw was when I saw Ida Auken's video where she does a victory dance in the ministerial car over the fact that her proposal to get a priest attached to Parliament has succeeded.