The Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs is preventing the Danish Parliament (Folketinget) from gaining insight into the work of the newly appointed convention ambassador. This action has drawn criticism from several right-leaning parties who believe the ministry is obstructing their ability to scrutinize the ambassador’s mandate and strategies.

The ministry rejected a request from the Immigration and Integration Committee to allow the ambassador to discuss his work during a meeting. This decision has fueled suspicion among opposition members who question the government’s commitment to challenging existing conventions.

Mikkel Bjørn, immigration spokesperson for the Danish People’s Party, stated, “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is blocking the Danish Parliament from gaining insight into what this ambassador is actually supposed to do, what mandate he has received from the government, and what strategies he intends to use in his work as an ambassador.” Bjørn further suggested that the lack of transparency indicates a potential absence of a clear mandate from the government to challenge the conventions effectively.

The government appointed Denmark’s first convention ambassador in February, tasking him with examining how Denmark can “challenge and explore the frameworks” established by the conventions. Nicolaj Hejberg Petersen assumed the position on April 1.

The Immigration and Integration Committee sought to meet with Petersen to discuss his plans for fulfilling his role. The committee aimed to discuss ways to strengthen Denmark’s ability to deport criminal foreigners without legal residence, address EU deportation regulations, and establish departure centers in third countries.

However, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in an internal email, rejected the committee’s request, citing the “political nature” of the topics to be discussed. The ministry argued that the subject matter exceeded the scope of civil servants’ participation in parliamentary discussions.

Peter Skaarup, immigration and integration spokesperson for the Denmark Democrats, expressed his “difficulty understanding” why the committee was denied the opportunity to meet with the ambassador. The Conservative People’s Party echoed this sentiment, with citizenship spokesperson Brigitte Klintskov Jerkel emphasizing the importance of ensuring adequate measures are taken to deport criminal foreigners.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs defended its decision, reiterating that the political nature of the inquiry made it impossible to accommodate the committee’s request.

Despite the government’s pledge to investigate how Denmark can challenge conventions, critics argue that the ambassador’s part-time appointment and delayed hiring indicate a lack of commitment. Birgitte Jerkel believes that the government’s actions do not match its rhetoric.

Mikkel Bjørn countered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ explanation by highlighting previous instances where civil servants have been summoned to parliamentary committees to discuss their work, referencing a meeting with Denmark’s tech ambassador. He suggested that the minister could attend meetings to address any politically sensitive questions.