Venstre, Danmarks Liberale Parti (Venstre, Denmark’s Liberal Party / V)
EU RANK: 84 (Tier 2: High Performance)
Venstre is a centre-right liberal-conservative party with agrarian historical roots, emphasising centre-right economic liberalism, market-friendly policies, and strong European engagement. The party secured 13.3% of the vote and 23 seats in 2022 under then-leadership of Jakob Ellemann-Jensen. Currently led by Troels Lund Poulsen following a 2024 leadership transition, Venstre serves as junior coalition partner in Prime Minister Frederiksen’s government alongside the Moderates, though internal organizational disruption from leadership changes has weakened the party’s standing.
Disinformation and alternative media
Venstre relies on mainstream media outlets, parliamentary communication channels, and digital platforms for political messaging. The party frames market liberalism, individual enterprise, and European cooperation as core values. Our research indicates that the party has experienced internal disruption affecting its media visibility and communication coherence, particularly following 2024 leadership transition. The party does not control alternative media outlets and operates within mainstream democratic frameworks. Disinformation/alternative media risk is low to medium.
Foreign influence and external alignments
Venstre is pro-EU and supports robust multilateral cooperation on trade and institutional matters. The party maintains alliance with centre-right European political movements and emphasizes European market integration. There is no evidence of financial or organizational ties to hostile foreign states. The party’s liberal-conservative positioning reflects commitment to European democratic institutions and market-based cooperation frameworks. Foreign influence DMI risk is low.
Media capture, advertising and public service media
Venstre does not own major media assets. As a governmental coalition partner, the party participates in standard democratic oversight of public broadcaster appointments and media governance. The party has not engaged in systematic media capture or attempted to politically restructure broadcasting institutions. However, internal leadership disruption has affected the party’s institutional effectiveness and coherence in media governance participation. Media capture DMI risk is low to medium.
Corruption, litigation and institutional integrity
Litigation records over 2015–2025 show no major corruption cases centered on Venstre’s national leadership. The party receives significant annual public subsidy as the second-largest Danish party. However, the party has experienced significant internal turmoil following Jakob Ellemann-Jensen’s 2024 resignation as party leader and Troels Lund Poulsen’s assumption of deputy prime minister role. This internal organizational disruption has weakened the party’s institutional capacity, though no major corruption violations have been documented. DMI corruption and institutional integrity risk is low to medium.
Press freedom, harassment and treatment of media
Venstre maintains engagement with media institutions and has not engaged in systematic campaigns to delegitimize journalism or press institutions. The party operates within democratic norms regarding press relations. While internal leadership disruption has affected the party’s media visibility and communication coherence, this reflects organizational challenges rather than systematic attacks on press freedom. Press freedom and harassment DMI risk is low.
| Dimension | Risk level | Short justification |
|---|---|---|
| Disinformation & alternative media | Low–Medium | Centre-right party affected by leadership transition; mainstream communication; internal disruption affects visibility. |
| Foreign influence & external alignments | Low | Pro-EU, supports multilateral cooperation; no hostile foreign ties; liberal-conservative positioning. |
| Media capture & advertising / PSB control | Low–Medium | No media assets; governmental partner in PSB; internal disruption affects institutional effectiveness. |
| Corruption & institutional integrity risk | Low–Medium | No major corruption cases; internal organizational turmoil from leadership change; maintains governance standards. |
| Press freedom & harassment of media | Low | Constructive media engagement; no delegitimization campaigns; internal challenges affect visibility not press relations. |