A majority in the Danish Parliament’s Committee on Rules of Procedure is pushing for tighter regulations regarding payments to members of parliament who resign from their mandates. The committee members, excluding the government parties, approved the measure on Wednesday.

The move follows revelations that Lars Løkke Rasmussen, as chairman of the Moderates party, offered Mike Fonseca 370,000 kroner to leave Parliament. This offer was made after Fonseca disclosed a romantic involvement with a 15-year-old girl. The incident came to light in a book, prompting opposition parties to call for an investigation into the legality of the action.

Ole Birk Olesen, a member of the committee from the Liberal Alliance, emphasized that the composition of Parliament should reflect the votes cast by the Danish people on election day.

While the Parliament’s legal experts initially assessed that Lars Løkke Rasmussen’s actions were not illegal, the Committee on Rules of Procedure will now direct the Parliament’s administration to prepare legislation that would make such offers illegal in the future.

The three government parties – the Social Democrats, Liberals, and Moderates – have expressed disagreement within the committee. Ole Birk Olesen voiced his disappointment, stating his surprise that the Social Democrats and Liberals do not support ensuring the illegality of offering money to members of parliament to resign.