The Presidium of the Danish Parliament’s decision to exclude debate on Palestine in the upcoming school election has sparked controversy, with several organizations feeling misunderstood after their letter of concern was cited as a basis for the exclusion. Speaker of the Parliament Søren Gade maintains the Israel-Palestine conflict is too complex for the school election format.

The decision to omit the topic was based on an assessment from the Agency for Education and Quality, according to Søren Gade. The Agency’s guidance reportedly stemmed from a “letter of concern” sent by organizations including the Danish Teachers’ Association, Danish School Students, and Bupl.

Several organizations behind the letter claim they feel misunderstood, as their intention was not to deselect specific topics. Regitze Spenner Ishøy, chairman of School and Students, stated that the letter aimed to address the manner of discussion and materials used, not to eliminate topics.

The letter was sent to the Danish Parliament following the 2024 school election, where the Danish People’s Party Youth distributed fake plane tickets resembling one-way tickets from Denmark to the Middle East. This action prompted six associations, including Danish School Students and School and Students, to express their concerns to parliamentary leadership, aiming to prevent future instances of “shaming”.

Søren Gade emphasized that the purpose of the school election is to give students an understanding of democracy, and that topics are merely a means to that end. He argued that a complex issue like the Israel-Palestine conflict requires more time than is available during the School Election, where time is very limited.

The school election, held every two years for students in 8th-10th grade, aims to strengthen young people’s democratic education and political self-confidence. The election spans three weeks, simulating a parliamentary election campaign and culminating in an election night at Christiansborg with results broadcast on national television.