Alternativet (The Alternative / Å)

EU RANK: 33 (Tier 2: High Performance)

The Alternative is a green, progressive party founded on principles of sustainability, participatory democracy, basic income advocacy, and anti-establishment reform. Led by Franciska Rosenkilde, the party secured 3.33% of the vote and 6 seats in 2022, appealing primarily to younger, urban voters concerned with environmental protection and institutional transformation. The party emphasizes values-based political culture, innovation, and radical democratic participation as alternatives to traditional hierarchical governance structures.

Disinformation and alternative media

The Alternative relies heavily on social media, grassroots networks, and participatory online tools for political communication and democratic engagement. The party frames digital rights, transparency, and environmental justice as core advocacy areas. Our research notes that the party has been occasional target of climate skeptic and anti-environmental disinformation networks, rather than an initiator of such campaigns. The party maintains commitment to evidence-based environmental policy and does not control alternative media outlets. Disinformation/alternative media risk is low to medium.

Foreign influence and external alignments

The Alternative maintains strong pro-EU positioning aligned with European green movements and democratic reform initiatives. The party advocates deep integration within European environmental governance frameworks and supports multilateral cooperation on climate action, social policy, and human rights. There is no evidence of financial or organizational ties to hostile foreign states. The party’s emphasis on transparent international cooperation reinforces alignment with democratic European institutions. Foreign influence DMI risk is low.

Media capture, advertising and public service media

The Alternative does not own major media assets and operates without oligarchic business network ties. The party has consistently advocated for transparent appointments to public broadcaster councils and stronger democratic oversight of media institutions. As a small opposition party with limited governmental access, the Alternative’s influence on media governance remains restricted to advocacy and parliamentary participation. The party maintains principled positions on editorial independence and anti-corruption. Media capture DMI risk is low.

Corruption, litigation and institutional integrity

Litigation records over 2015–2025 show no major corruption cases centered on the Alternative’s national leadership. The party maintains standard financial reporting procedures. However, the party has experienced internal organisational challenges including member fragmentation and leadership transitions that have affected institutional capacity and public visibility. Despite these internal strains, no major institutional integrity violations have been documented. DMI corruption and institutional integrity risk is low to medium.

Press freedom, harassment and treatment of media

The Alternative rhetorically and practically supports independent journalism and investigative reporting on environmental and social issues. The party frames press freedom and editorial independence as foundational to democratic participation. The party has not engaged in campaigns to delegitimize media institutions or mobilize harassment against journalists. While party figures may critique media coverage of climate issues as insufficient, there is no systematic pattern of attacking journalism as a whole. Press freedom and harassment DMI risk is low.

Dimension	Risk level	Short justification
Disinformation & alternative media	Low–Medium	Green-progressive party; subject to climate skeptic campaigns; no alt-media control; internal organizational challenges affect visibility.
Foreign influence & external alignments	Low	Strongly pro-EU, supports multilateral environmental cooperation; no hostile foreign ties.
Media capture & advertising / PSB control	Low	No media assets; advocates transparent PSB appointments and democratic media governance.
Corruption & institutional integrity risk	Low–Medium	No major scandals; internal fragmentation affects organizational capacity but not institutional integrity violations.
Press freedom & harassment of media	Low	Supports independent journalism and editorial independence; no systematic journalist harassment.