Bjarne Lastein, the top candidate for the Radical Left in Vejen Municipality, shares much of Nils Brøndumbo’s thinking when it comes to vote pooling. Both see the practical logic of making sure votes don’t go to waste — but for Lastein, the alliance signals something beyond tactics. It’s about showing the party can actually work with others.
“We’re open to working with everyone,” Lastein says. “In a rural setting like Vejen Municipality, you need solid compromise skills. That’s just how it works.”
Unconventional Alliances on the Ballot
Roger Buch, a municipal elections researcher at Denmark’s Media and Journalism College, says the pairing is worth paying attention to.
“Most electoral unions fall within either the red or blue political blocks, or somewhere around the center. Those are the formations we normally see,” Buch explains.
Brøndumbo, representing the Danish People’s Party, is candid about what his side gets out of it. “By entering into an electoral alliance, we could potentially capture their votes and secure two mandates instead of just one. It’s a bit of a game,” he reflects.
Buch thinks these arrangements deserve far more visibility on the ballot itself. “Voters often overlook these associations, which is a real problem. People need to understand how their votes can shift the outcome,” he argues.
Brøndumbo isn’t losing sleep over any backlash. “Voters are astute enough to see the bigger picture. This electoral coalition is a technical means of distributing votes — it doesn’t dictate our future cooperation,” he insists.
Lastein is more measured. He accepts that the alliance might put some voters off, but figures the upside is worth it. “These are the realities of forming an electoral alliance. The dynamics in Copenhagen differ from those in rural areas like ours. We don’t face the same political drama they experience in Christiansborg,” he notes.
For now, Buch points out, anyone wanting to know which parties are grouped together has to either visit individual party websites or check the posters at voting booths. There’s no easier way to find out.
