Denmark is heading to the polls, but if you’re an international living here, there’s a good chance you won’t have a vote.

In this episode, Derek Hartman breaks down the upcoming Danish national election and what it means for the hundreds of thousands of residents who live, work, and pay taxes in Denmark but cannot participate in the country’s parliamentary vote.

Joining the conversation is Torben Alexander Klinger, founder of Project Vote Talk and a candidate for Venstre, who helps unpack how Danish elections work and why this snap election was called. They also discuss the growing debate around citizenship, the freezing of citizenship applications during the election period, and what that means for internationals waiting years to become eligible voters.

The conversation explores a bigger question about democracy in Denmark: what does it mean to belong to a society if you can’t participate fully in its political system? With internationals making up nearly 17% of the population, the discussion highlights the tension between Denmark’s strict citizenship rules and its reliance on international workers.

Even if you can’t vote in this election, understanding how the system works and the debates shaping it might help Denmark make a little more sense.

Thank you to today's sponsor ➡️ Cool Accounts - your go-to service for expat taxes in Denmark

Thorbern Klingert (guest):

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taklingert/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/taklingert/

Candidate Website: https://www.venstre.dk/personer/thorbern-alexander-klingert

Derek Hartman:

Instagram: https://instagram.com/derekhartmandk

YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/robetrotting

TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@derekhartmandk

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robetrotting

🎟️ Come see the show in person!

149 | Denmark’s Election Fuels a Growing Citizenship Debate