The Danish Parliament (Folketinget) has decided to halt its ambitious renovation and expansion project due to concerns over escalating costs. Initially envisioned as the most extensive overhaul of Folketinget since 1928, the project aimed to modernize the parliamentary complex and improve public accessibility. However, amid growing skepticism and financial caution, key political parties have withdrawn their support, leading to the project’s termination.
A grand vision now shelved
The proposed renovation included the construction of a new underground visitor entrance connecting the former Rigsarkiv buildings to Christiansborg Slot, as well as a new visitor center to accommodate a larger number of guests. Additionally, the old Rigsarkiv was set to be transformed into office spaces for politicians and staff.
To date, approximately 70 million Danish kroner have already been spent on preliminary work, including an archaeological excavation and an architectural competition. However, the lack of a broad political consensus ultimately led to the decision to halt the project.
“The support is no longer there,” said Folketinget Speaker Søren Gade (V). “We in the Præsidiet (Folketinget’s leadership) agreed that if we were to spend such a significant amount of taxpayer money on making Folketinget more accessible to the public, it would require a strong and broad majority in Parliament. That was simply not the case.”
Costs spiraling into billions
“We have been informed that the total project cost is expected to be at least one billion kroner, and we estimate that it could even reach two billion. We do not wish to allocate such a large sum,” said Liberal Alliance parliamentary group leader Ole Birk Olesen. “Spending 200 million kroner on a feasibility study for something we are already skeptical about is, in our view, too much.”
The Liberal Alliance has been critical of the project from the beginning, particularly because a large portion of the new space would have been dedicated to expanding administrative offices rather than serving the public.
The proposal also failed to gain support from the Danmarksdemokraterne, Dansk Folkeparti, Konservative, and Radikale Venstre, further weakening its prospects.
A missed opportunity or sensible decision?
Despite the cancellation, Folketinget Speaker Søren Gade maintains that the parliamentary facilities require improvements, citing significant pressure on the existing buildings and the frequent inability to accommodate all visitors.
When asked if he was disappointed by the outcome, Gade responded, “As Speaker, I cannot afford to be disappointed. My role is to bring parties together on this issue. But personally, I believe it was a fantastic project. I think it had the potential to open Folketinget more to the public.”
While the ruling government technically still holds a majority in favor of the project, Gade emphasized that the lack of broader political backing was a decisive factor in halting its progress. “There is a majority, but it is not broad enough for us to proceed. I believe that for such an expensive project, support should span across the political spectrum. After all, we are dealing with taxpayers’ money.”
