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"It was me who calculated that it would be financially worthwhile, and I half-jokingly suggested that we offer Jon one million kroner," said Carsten Damgaard Møller, a former member of the Moderates’ executive board, in a recently published book. “Afterwards, I’ve heard from multiple sources that a confidential conversation was held with Jon about some kind of severance package.”

The allegation is echoed by Jeppe Søe, a former Moderate MP and party spokesperson. “Yes, I can confirm that Jon was offered money to help him move on,” Søe told Danish state radio. “I’ve heard the same figure — one million.”

The accusations come just days after a leaked recording revealed how the powerful party leader and head of the Moderate Party-controlled Ministry of Foreign Affairs Lars Løkke Rasmussen personally offered MP Mike Fonseca DKK 370,000 (approx. USD 53,000) to vacate his seat. Fonseca, then aged 28, was under fire for entering a technically legal but widely morally condemned sexual relationship with a 15-year-old girl. He secretly recorded the conversation in which Rasmussen can be heard angrily insisting the payout was meant to “solve a problem you created!”

Rasmussen’s party had initially insisted that the Fonseca offer was an isolated case. But the new testimony suggests a broader pattern of using cash or favors to secure control of mandates of disgraced MP's. The goal in both cases appears to have been to retain the parliamentary majority of the Social Democrat-led right-wing regime that the Moderate Party is part of.

Moderate Party secretary Britt Bager has denied any wrongdoing in the Stephensen case. “I’ve looked into the rumors and I haven’t found any evidence that Jon Stephensen was offered money,” she told Danish media. Bager, who assumed her post after the alleged incident, insists no money was paid — but did not rule out that private job offers may have been discussed.

Jon Stephensen himself has refused to confirm or deny claims that he was offered money to vacate his seat. Stephensen continues to be an MP without party affiliation.

In the wake of the Fonseca bribery tape, eight opposition parties have now demanded an official investigation into the legality of the Moderates' cash-for-mandates operation.

Founded in 2021 as a personal vehicle for former prime minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen following his dramatic fall from the leadership of the Liberal Party, the neoliberal Moderate Party promised sensible centre-right politics, free from the baggage of existing right-wing, but quickly devolved into what critics have dubbed a "clown car" of public disgrace. The party’s short life has been marred by a torrent of scandals including sexual misconduct, workplace bullying, misogyny, and fraudulent claims of business success. Meanwhile, the ruling Social Democrats, whose fragile grip on power depends on Rasmussen’s party, remain silent.

Source: Fik Jon Stephensen også tilbudt penge for at opgive Folketinget? Nej, siger Moderaterne, DR (state media), June 20th 2025

"It was me who calculated that it would be financially worthwhile, and I half-jokingly suggested that we offer Jon one million kroner," said Carsten Damgaard Møller, a former member of the Moderates’ executive board, in a recently published book. “Afterwards, I’ve heard from multiple sources that a confidential conversation was held with Jon about some kind of severance package.”

The allegation is echoed by Jeppe Søe, a former Moderate MP and party spokesperson. “Yes, I can confirm that Jon was offered money to help him move on,” Søe told Danish state radio. “I’ve heard the same figure — one million.”

The accusations come just days after a leaked recording revealed how the powerful party leader and head of the Moderate Party-controlled Ministry of Foreign Affairs Lars Løkke Rasmussen personally offered MP Mike Fonseca DKK 370,000 (approx. USD 53,000) to vacate his seat. Fonseca, then aged 28, was under fire for entering a technically legal but widely morally condemned sexual relationship with a 15-year-old girl. He secretly recorded the conversation in which Rasmussen can be heard angrily insisting the payout was meant to “solve a problem you created!”

Rasmussen’s party had initially insisted that the Fonseca offer was an isolated case. But the new testimony suggests a broader pattern of using cash or favors to secure control of mandates of disgraced MP's. The goal in both cases appears to have been to retain the parliamentary majority of the Social Democrat-led right-wing regime that the Moderate Party is part of.

Moderate Party secretary Britt Bager has denied any wrongdoing in the Stephensen case. “I’ve looked into the rumors and I haven’t found any evidence that Jon Stephensen was offered money,” she told Danish media. Bager, who assumed her post after the alleged incident, insists no money was paid — but did not rule out that private job offers may have been discussed.

Jon Stephensen himself has refused to confirm or deny claims that he was offered money to vacate his seat. Stephensen continues to be an MP without party affiliation.

In the wake of the Fonseca bribery tape, eight opposition parties have now demanded an official investigation into the legality of the Moderates' cash-for-mandates operation.

Founded in 2021 as a personal vehicle for former prime minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen following his dramatic fall from the leadership of the Liberal Party, the neoliberal Moderate Party promised sensible centre-right politics, free from the baggage of existing right-wing, but quickly devolved into what critics have dubbed a "clown car" of public disgrace. The party’s short life has been marred by a torrent of scandals including sexual misconduct, workplace bullying, misogyny, and fraudulent claims of business success. Meanwhile, the ruling Social Democrats, whose fragile grip on power depends on Rasmussen’s party, remain silent.

Source: Fik Jon Stephensen også tilbudt penge for at opgive Folketinget? Nej, siger Moderaterne, DR (state media), June 20th 2025