The Danish Parliament’s decision to exclude debate on the Israel-Palestine conflict from the upcoming school election in 2026 has sparked controversy, with several organizations claiming their concerns have been misinterpreted. Speaker of the Parliament Søren Gade defended the decision, citing an assessment from the Agency for Education and Quality (Stuk).

The Agency’s assessment was reportedly based on a “letter of concern” from organizations including the Danish Teachers’ Association, Danish School Students, and Bupl, the educators’ trade union. These organizations now say they feel misunderstood, asserting that the letter was intended to address the tone and materials used in discussions, not to deselect specific topics.

The organizations had sent the letter to Parliament following the 2024 school election, where the Danish People’s Party Youth (DFU) distributed fake airline tickets that resembled a one-way ticket from Denmark to the Middle East. The letter expressed concern that such actions could lead to students feeling “shamed.” The groups emphasized that the purpose of the letter was to prevent shaming, not to remove the topic of Palestine from future school election debates.

Gade maintains that the decision to exclude Palestine was based on the complexity of the issue and the limited time available during the school election. He argues that students need more than a few minutes to understand such a multifaceted topic.

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 and mirrors a parliamentary election campaign, culminating in an election night at Christiansborg where the results are broadcast on national television. The next school election is scheduled for 2026.