Zenia Stampe criticism from Viktor Axelsen, Digi Mart USA News: Danish Culture Minister Zenia Stampe (Conservative People’s Party) faced public criticism after a heated exchange on DR’s television program “Debatten” on October 29. The minister and entrepreneur Martin Thorborg clashed while discussing artificial intelligence, and host Clement Kjersgaard repeatedly had to ask the debaters to calm down.
The criticism quickly grew, including from badminton star Viktor Axelsen, who wrote on Facebook that he found Stampe’s conduct embarrassing. He said her tone, body language and handling of the situation fell well below what should be expected of a minister.
Liberal Alliance’s Katrine Daugaard then raised the matter with Stampe, citing Axelsen’s post and his statement that her conduct and lack of self-reflection afterward did not represent the values he associates with Danish sport.
Stampe has now answered the question. Her full response was: “I thought ‘well, wow.’ And that was it.”
The debate about the debate does not end there. Malte Larsen and Mikkel Bjørn of the Danish People’s Party have also submitted a question to her asking whether she believes her treatment of Thorborg reflected a respectful way of treating other citizens, and whether her debate style meets the high standard expected of a Danish minister.
That question remains unanswered.
