Venstre records its worst-ever Voxmeter poll result

Venstre has fallen to 7.1% in a Voxmeter poll for Ritzau, its worst result since the polling series began in 2001. The party once stood among Denmark’s largest political forces, reaching 35.8% in a September 2012 poll.

Venstre has also held the prime minister’s office several times since 2001. Anders Fogh Rasmussen served from 2001 to 2009, while Lars Løkke Rasmussen held the post from 2009 to 2011 and again from 2015 to 2019.

The historic decline follows a turbulent period for the party, which has roots in Danish agriculture. Søren Gade and four other Venstre lawmakers broke with the party line on a disputed fertilizer law. The legislation would give Danish farmers quotas for their nitrogen emissions into fjords and coastal waters.

Five of the party’s 18 lawmakers, nearly one-third, opposed leader Troels Lund Poulsen’s position. He has also faced criticism from other leaders in Denmark’s center-right camp.

In August, Inger Støjberg said on the TV 2 program “Besserwisserne” that she missed leadership from Poulsen. “I saw Troels Lund as the natural leader of the blue bloc. But I would also say that this requires you to be a leader all the time,” she said.

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I saw Troels Lund as the natural leader of the blue bloc. But I would also say that this requires you to be a leader all the time.