A 19-second video now shows the insults raining down on Mattias Tesfaye: nonsense, lies, and manipulation.

The Social Democrats’ school proposal, presented the week after—on February 4—did not mention a single word about shortening school days for older students. Only that the party had previously shortened them for the youngest pupils during the current government term.

Mattias Tesfaye does not wish to grant an interview with DR, but when directly asked how many hours he would cut from the school day, he referred in an email to the fact that the government had previously shortened the school day. Though only for the youngest pupils, and thus not for older students, whom he otherwise addresses on Instagram.

And he points to the fact that the government—even earlier in this term—has given individual municipalities the option to shorten school days for all students.

But there is no mention of whether he himself actively supports shortening school days for older students—even though he explicitly stated in his school election video that the Social Democrats "support shorter school days."

This has sparked criticism from several parties in the Folketing.

- When you watch the video with Mattias Tesfaye, you get the impression that the Social Democrats are actively working to shorten the school day. But in reality, they are not doing that, says Christina Olumeko, youth education spokesperson for Alternativet.

- And when a party goes out and says it is working for one thing, but in reality does nothing about it, that is manipulation, she says.

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**Accusations of voter deception**

The school election, held every other year, is organized by the Folketing and the Ministry of Children and Education in collaboration with the Danish Youth Council. According to the Folketing, the "overarching goal of the school election is to increase students' democratic engagement, strengthen their political confidence, and prepare them for participation in representative democracy."

Christina Olumeko adds that it is particularly serious because it is school students—those who, according to her, the minister manipulates into believing that a vote for the Social Democrats is a vote for shorter school days.

- I think it’s voter fraud, and it’s sad because these are children and young people who, for the first time, have had to try to be part of democracy, she says.

> It is voter fraud, and it’s sad because these are children and young people who, for the first time, have had to try to be part of democracy.

> **Christina Olumeko, Alternativet**

The same sentiment comes from Morten Messerschmidt, leader of the Danish People’s Party.

- As far as I understand his answer (from Mattias Tesfaye, ed.), the Social Democrats do not have a policy here at Christiansborg (the Folketing building) to shorten the school day. So what he tells young voters who cast their ballots here is blatantly wrong. When a government party manipulates so crudely—essentially lies—it is very concerning for democracy, he says.

But when Mattias Tesfaye writes that he has given municipalities the freedom to shorten school days, isn’t that equivalent to supporting shorter school days?

- I think most people would get that impression when a Social Democratic minister says that the school day will be shortened—that it’s an intervention coming from the Folketing, meaning a law.

- Tesfaye clearly gives young people the impression that if they vote for the Social Democrats, they will get a shorter school day. And that is voter deception. It’s especially bad when it’s very young people who are deceived in this way, because this is their first encounter with democracy, says Morten Messerschmidt.

> Just as more hours do not automatically mean more learning, a shorter school day does not necessarily do so either.

> **Andreas Rasch-Christensen, school researcher and research director at VIA University College**

Andreas Rasch-Christensen, a school researcher and research director at VIA University College, notes that Mattias Tesfaye could indeed shorten school days for older students if he truly wanted to.

But he is unsure whether, from an academic perspective, it would be reasonable.

- Just as more hours do not automatically mean more learning, a shorter school day does not necessarily do so either. And I think we have a reasonable balance in the number of hours, he says.

He elaborates that it’s about supporting the abilities of students who are particularly challenged in subjects like Danish and mathematics—and that reducing teaching hours could negatively impact practical and musical subjects, which are also important for students.

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**School elections**

Every other year, school elections are held among students in grades 8 to 10. The elections have no direct impact, but serve as a barometer for what future generations of voters might support.

In the most recent school election in January 2026, the Social Democrats became the largest party with 23% of the votes—a significant rise from the 2024 school election, where they received 16% of the votes.

The second-largest party this year was Liberal Alliance, which secured 16% of the school students’ votes. In the 2024 school election, Liberal Alliance was the largest party, ahead of the Social Democrats.

Around 70,000 students from 95 out of the country’s 98 municipalities participated in this year’s school election.

The full results of the school election can be seen here. (https://skolevalg.dk/)

Source: Folketinget et al.

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**Demands an apology from the minister**

Both Alternativet and the Danish People’s Party assess that the Social Democrats’ success in the school election is largely due to the issue of shorter school days.

- I actually think it’s a bit dishonest when you have a minister who goes out and says something that isn’t true about their own party’s policy, says Christina Olumeko, who believes Mattias Tesfaye should issue an apology.

- It would be appropriate if he acknowledged that he was too hasty in the video and apologized for saying something that the Social Democrats do not actually support, she says.

Morten Messerschmidt also believes Mattias Tesfaye should step up.

- I think there is a connection between what you promise during an election campaign and what voters base their decisions on. In this case, it’s very young people who, of course, would find it nice if there was a party willing to shorten the school day. And so they voted accordingly. It would be fitting if he apologized for lying, says Messerschmidt.

Mattias Tesfaye has not wished to respond to the criticism, nor has he wanted to comment on whether he believes there is a connection between the Social Democrats’ pledge to support shorter school days and the party’s victory in the school election.

While Alternativet on Christiansborg advocates for shorter school days, the Danish People’s Party is against them.

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**DSU is frustrated**

Katrine Evelyn Jensen, chair of Danmarks Socialdemokratiske Ungdom (DSU), would have liked to see shorter school days for older students included in last week’s Social Democrats’ school proposal, titled "Lilleskolen" (Little School). However, she does not believe Mattias Tesfaye deserves criticism.

- In DSU, we support shortening the school day, so I wouldn’t have any issue with it being decided centrally. I hope that the Social Democrats will eventually also support it centrally, including for older students, she says.

She is in no way disappointed by either the minister or her party.

- The Social Democrats have done a lot to work for the very issue of shorter school days. It’s regrettable that it’s not included in the "Lilleskolen" proposal. We in DSU will fight for it if the Social Democrats regain power. But I don’t think it’s fair to criticize Mattias Tesfaye in this way. If anyone, he has been a strong advocate for shortening school days in various ways, she says.

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