Danish Minister Ida Auken criticized for parliamentary priest appointment

Health and Church Minister Ida Auken sparked a political storm after the Danish Parliament voted to assign a permanent priest to the chamber, a proposal she had introduced last year. Former Social Democratic ministers Helle Degn, Jytte Andersen and former MEP Britta Thomsen condemned the move as a breach of the principle separating religion and politics. Degn said, “It is completely out of line to ask a religion to operate in the workshop of democracy.” The criticism led several party members to quit the Social Democrats. Auken declined media interviews, citing holiday, but previously defended the decision, arguing that the Church of Denmark’s role in a democratic society justifies the priest’s presence.

The debate highlights tensions within Denmark’s ruling party over church‑state relations and may affect internal cohesion ahead of upcoming legislative work.