Around 25 Kurdish candidates from various political parties have secured seats in Denmark’s local elections on Tuesday, marking one of the strongest showings ever by members of the Kurdish community in Danish municipal politics.
The elections delivered a major shock across Denmark, particularly for the ruling Social Democratic Party, whose vote share plunged from 28% to 23%, its worst municipal performance in decades. The party’s biggest loss came in the capital, Copenhagen, where it lost control of the city’s leadership for the first time in more than 100 years.
Kurdish Candidates Celebrate Major Wins
Among the Kurdish winners are Roza Sulaiman and Araz Khan, who come from the Yazidi-majority district of Shingal (Sinjar) and Zakho in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, respectively. The remaining winners are Kurds originally from Turkey, continuing a long tradition of political engagement among the Kurdish diaspora in Scandinavia.
The list of Kurdish winners includes:
Comert Sonsuz, Dogan Polat, Erdal Colak, Esat Senturk, Necla Baran, Selim Baran, Feti Baran, Firat Sari, Ibrahim Benli, Gul Ozcan, Hediye Temiz, Huseyin Arac, Mehmet Zeki Dogru, Metin Deniz, Murat Kutuk, Musa Harmanci, Mustafa Aslan, Resul Kucukakin, Sami Deniz, Serdal Benli, Taner Genc, Yavuz Sari, and Ozgen Yucel.
These candidates were elected across different municipalities and different political parties, reflecting both the diversity and integration of Kurds in Danish political life.
Reactions From the Winners
Roza Sulaiman, who secured re-election to the Aalborg City Council, expressed heartfelt appreciation in a Facebook post:
“You have given me 1,361 personal votes, and thus I have been re-elected to Aalborg City Council. I am humbled and grateful for the overwhelming support, and I promise to work at least as hard for the next four years.”
Araz Khan, known for his community activism, also issued a statement thanking his supporters:
“Thank you to all the volunteers who spent evenings, weekends, and days off fighting for our cause. You are the soul of the entire project.”
A Growing Kurdish Political Footprint in Europe
This year’s election results highlight the expanding role of the Kurdish diaspora in European politics. Denmark, like Sweden, Germany, and the Netherlands, has seen increasing Kurdish participation at both local and national levels. Kurdish candidates in Denmark often focus on social welfare, integration, education, gender equality, and immigrant rights—topics that strongly resonate with both Kurdish and broader minority communities.
Analysts note that the success of Kurdish candidates also reflects the growing political influence of immigrant voters in Denmark’s multicultural urban centers, where population demographics have shifted in recent decades.
Social Democrats Face Their Worst Municipal Loss in a Century
While Kurdish candidates celebrated victories, the ruling Social Democrats faced a historic setback. Their loss of Copenhagen—long considered the heartland of the party—is seen as a symbolic turning point.
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen admitted disappointment, stating the losses were “greater than we had expected,” according to The Guardian.
Political observers say a combination of issues—rising living costs, dissatisfaction among urban voters, concerns over migration policies, and generational political shifts—contributed to the decline.
A New Chapter in Local Danish Politics
With roughly 25 Kurdish councillors now elected across Denmark, the Kurdish community is expected to play a more visible role in shaping local governance in areas such as housing, social services, education, and cultural affairs.
The results also highlight the increasing role of diaspora communities in European democracy—reflecting both political maturity and the desire to contribute to their adopted countries while maintaining ties to their heritage.
