SF Leader Calls Advisor Hiring a Mistake, Not Poor Judgment

Pia Olsen Dyhr, the leader of Denmark's Socialist People's Party (SF), has characterized the decision to hire an advisor accused of sexual harassment as a mistake, rather than a lapse in judgment. Thomas Nystrøm was appointed as a special advisor in June, even though he had previously departed the party in 2020 after allegations of harassment surfaced.

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No, it was not poor judgment, it was a mistake. We have concluded that process, and SF is in a further process with those involved.

Nystrøm's departure from SF in 2020 followed accusations, including one from SF councilor Lotte Kofoed, who stated that Nystrøm had inappropriately touched her and thrown beer at her at a party congress. Nystrøm has stated he does not recall the incident but does not dispute it. He announced his resignation from the special advisor role in June.

Further complicating matters, it has emerged that SF utilized Nystrøm as an external consultant after his 2020 departure, though the party has not specified when this arrangement began. The controversy intensified with the resignation of SF's campaign manager, Thomas Juhl, before the summer break. Juhl cited the party's handling of the MeToo case and the rehiring of Nystrøm as his reasons for leaving, expressing deep disappointment with the leadership's lack of self-reflection and acknowledgment of errors.

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If I had known what I knew this past week, would I have made that decision? No, I would not have.

Olsen Dyhr has declined to issue an apology demanded by Lotte Kofoed. Earlier in June, Olsen Dyhr stated that if she had known what she learned in the preceding week, she would not have made the hiring decision. SF later clarified that her regret pertained specifically to the hiring itself, due to the significant criticism and frustration it generated.

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Not only that mistakes have been made, but that I have not met any self-reflection or willingness to acknowledge the mistakes.