Lars Løkke Rasmussen Faces Bribery
Photo: Claus Bech/Scanpix/TT

Lars Løkke Rasmussen Faces Bribery Allegations Over Parliament Seat

The right-wing leader and foreign minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen is accused of having tried to buy a seat in the Danish parliament folketinget, reports Frihedsbrevet and Danish TV2.

The allegations are based on audio recordings where Løkke and other representatives of the party Moderaterna discuss with member Mike Fonseca, who has been accused of grooming as he had a relationship with a 15-year-old girl.

Fonseca is offered on the recording psychological help and crisis management – but also six months' pay, if he leaves the parliament and thus allows Moderaterna to fill the seat.

Then we agree that you get paid for six months, Løkke is said to say on the recording, which was secretly made by Fonseca himself and is now handed over to the news investigation organization Frihedsbrevet.

Fonseca thanks, but says no on the recording. He was a member of Løkke's party at the time, but left a few days later and became a political independent – which meant that Moderaterna lost a vote in the parliament.

The party claims that the quotes are taken out of context, and rejects the allegations.

I do not think it's about buying a seat, says party secretary Britt Bager.

It's about finding a good solution to a very, very difficult situation.

Lars Løkke Rasmussen has been prime minister in two rounds, and has been foreign minister in the S-led government since 2022.

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AuthorTT News AgencyEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for our readers

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