Lizette Risgaard admitted to “crossing the line” with several young men and publicly apologized for it
Lizette Risgaard, head of the main Danish trade union federation, announced her resignation on Sunday after allegations of groping and inappropriate behavior by several young people.
The 62-year-old head of the Danish Federation of Trade Unions (FH) said on his Facebook page that “information spread by various sources” had hindered the union struggle: “That is why I have decided to resign as head of FH. It is one of the hardest decisions of my life.
Riskaard asked that they “not make hasty judgments based on newspaper articles, rumours, public opinion or social networks”, having previously apologized and partially admitted to having stumbled.
The scandal broke on Thursday, with several media outlets reporting allegations by co-workers that Riskard had touched them inappropriately over the years, even groping their buttocks.
“For example, when I hugged them, I rubbed my hand on their back for a long time, touched their buttocks and danced very close to them”, admitted the head of the union, after two media outlets published information about a dozen cases.
After the scandal, the FH decided to investigate Riscard’s conduct internally, who initially wanted to stay in office, but criticism from several unions in the federation forced him to resign.
Regarded as one of the most powerful women in Denmark, Risgaard has been the head of FH since 2015, which represents around 1.3 million workers in the public and private sectors.
Jean Rhys is a contributor to OE Mag, covering news, politics, business, technology, sport, entertainment, and lifestyle. She focuses on clear, accurate reporting and useful information that helps readers stay informed about current affairs and developments that matter to them. Her work highlights relevant stories, emerging trends, and key issues, presenting them in a balanced, accessible, and reader-friendly way.