ANALYSIS: That is why today's meeting is so important for Troels Lund – and what could go completely wrong or right?

Sunday, October 25, 2026 • 5:40 AM UTC - in Politics

Venstre’s chairman, Troels Lund Poulsen, is facing two important weeks. First an extraordinary executive committee meeting Sunday in Nyborg – and in two weeks’ time the national conference in Herning.

When the two Venstre gatherings are over, he must be left with a party that is more united than it has been in a long time. And with the authority to demand support all the way around. Including from those who actually think he is moving Venstre in the wrong direction.

It is about Venstre’s green journey.

According to the party chairman, it began a long time ago. His problem is that many Danes have only just noticed it now. And his problem is especially that strong forces within his party think it is heading in the wrong direction – in relation to the agriculture that has always been important to Venstre.

That is the assessment of Søren Gade, who during the week left Venstre’s parliamentary group. That has taken some of the energy out of the turmoil in Venstre’s parliamentary group. Five out of 18 rebelled when the vote was held on the Fertiliser Act – but among the five, Søren Gade was the most important.

Now, for Troels Lund Poulsen, the task is to bring the disagreement within the entire party organisation down to a low simmer. To be able to look forward to the national conference in November with peace of mind.

That is why the executive committee meeting is crucial. At first glance, things now look far less worrying for Troels Lund Poulsen than they did a short time ago. There are good chances of a good landing for the chairman. Søren Gade is gone, and the few executive committee members who have spoken out seem prepared to support the chairman.

Regardless of that, the meeting in Nyborg is absolutely central to Troels Lund Poulsen’s efforts to achieve peace in Venstre.

In other words, it must not go wrong. And what would that mean?

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The worst-case scenario

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Here follow two imagined courses of events for Venstre’s executive committee meeting. The good and the bad, seen from Troels Lund Poulsen’s perspective. The best and the worst-case scenario.

We begin with the worst-case scenario for the Venstre leadership.

The setting is Hotel Nyborg Strand, more than 100 Venstre members are gathered. The only item on the agenda is the current political situation. The first speaker is party chairman Troels Lund Poulsen.

He begins by noting that it has been a difficult time for Venstre. He also notes that there is no way back. The journey that began all the way back under Anders Fogh Rasmussen (party chairman 1998-2009) – it must continue.

Troels Lund Poulsen ends his speech by emphasising that it is now crucial that Venstre stands united as a party.

Everyone in the room knows what that means. Namely, that Troels Lund Poulsen is asking for support for two things. For responding with sanctions against parliamentary members who do not vote as the party wishes in upcoming votes on agriculture – a possible sanction could be losing a spokesperson post. The specific sanctions are not mentioned, however. And for the executive committee to work to ensure that Venstre appears as a united party at the national conference in Herning in November.

Troels Lund Poulsen ends his speech. But from here, the meeting heads in the wrong direction for the party chairman.

Several speakers with ties to agriculture want guarantees from the party leadership to secure high compensation for farmers when spraying bans are introduced. Otherwise, they reserve the right to criticise.

Others emphasise to Troels Lund Poulsen that there is great dissatisfaction among the membership base with his party journey. They neither can nor will promise strict discipline at the national conference. One must expect harsh words in Herning, they point out.

Some warn him against punishing parliamentary members who go against the party line in the chamber. That is not in Venstre’s spirit, they say.

No one as such threatens Troels Lund Poulsen as chairman, or proposes an alternative. But the executive committee meeting does not give him the full-throated support and backing to crack down on disagreement that he came to Nyborg to get.

Troels Lund Poulsen can now look forward to the national conference in November with nervousness.

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The best-case scenario

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Here, instead, comes the best-case scenario for the Venstre leadership.

Troels Lund Poulsen ends his speech by emphasising that it is now crucial that Venstre stands united as a party. Heads nod around the table.

Troels Lund Poulsen ends his speech. There is rhythmic applause in the room.

Several influential Venstre figures immediately take the floor and give their full support to the party chairman. Perhaps strong Jutland Venstre figures such as the chairman of the North Denmark Region, Mads Duedahl, or the Vejle mayor, Jens Ejner Christensen. Their words carry weight.

Several others join in. What they share is support for Lund Poulsen’s course. They have confidence that Venstre can make a good agreement with the government on the spraying ban. They pledge to ensure that there will be as little criticism of the party leadership at the national conference as possible.

Troels Lund Poulsen can now look forward to the national conference in November with optimism. The executive committee meeting gave him the support he wanted.

The unrest in Venstre has not disappeared along with Søren Gade. But it is beginning to come under control. And that is, at minimum, the precondition for voters ever being able to come back.

Warning: This article was translated by a Large Language Model, in case of doubt, you can always visit the original source.