Lars Løkke's speech to Özlem 

(The spoken word prevails.)

Speech at Özlem’s 50th birthday reception on May 7, 2026

Dear Özlem – my love!

Thank you for letting me come and say a few words.

I got to know you when you had just been elected to the Folketing for the Socialist People’s Party.

In his speech earlier this evening, Mogens Lykketoft referred to the seriousness, honesty, and transparency you embodied when, in 2012, the SF had to support certain political decisions in which I myself did not actively participate.

I was just down in Brazil with my daughter, following everything from afar and making a few phone calls.

And one, two, four—before you knew it, the SRSF government had implemented significant tax cuts, which you took a bit of a swipe at. You said so out loud, very loudly in fact.

And of course, it’s a nightmare for a party leader to have people like that—people who stand up for what they believe in and stick to their guns. On the other hand, it’s also a testament to the incredible personal integrity you possess, and I’d like to commend you for that.

You’ve carried that integrity with you.

Even though you haven’t been in the Folketing quite as long as Mogens Lykketoft and I have, you’ve made a lasting impact.

For example, when you walk into the conference room and see this painting of notable women in Danish politics, in which you are, of course, portrayed.

That makes a lot of sense.

In many ways, I actually think it makes even more sense now that you’ve left Christiansborg. Because you’ve taken your integrity with you, and you’ve made it your life’s mission to build bridges where others dig trenches.

And if there’s one thing the world and Denmark needs, it’s bridge-builders—people who insist on dialogue and conversation. That’s what you’ve done, and you’ve been incredibly successful at it.

It may have started primarily with immigration policy, where I think you and I share the view that many nuances are being lost; it’s becoming too black-and-white.

We need to have a dialogue where we don’t judge people solely on the basis of their skin color or religion, but where we see the person behind it all.

You’ve done that, but you’ve also taken it a step further: My most recent experience with you was during the election campaign, when the focus was on the Danish Realm and Greenland.

You have brought the methods you have developed—and which I believe you sensed were also needed at Christiansborg—out into society. We really need that, and for that, we all owe you a huge thank you.

So I have the utmost respect for you, and I’m incredibly proud to have been invited and asked to say a few words. It makes me happy.

I'm older than you, and it probably took me a little longer than it did you to realize that black-and-white thinking doesn't work.

The world is full of color, and dialogue is needed.

I probably won't ever actually subscribe to that "dialogue coffee," because I prefer "dialogue wine," but that's just my personal opinion.

Congratulations, Özlem.