Party: Social Democratic Party/Socialdemokratiet
Candidate for: Local council: Esbjerg Municipality
Daniel’s Journey
Daniel Teodor Avram was born in Oradea, Romania, a university town that borders Hungary and attracts international youth to its academic and architecturally rich center. He became interested in politics at an early age, and in 2009, after high school, came to Denmark to study International Marketing and Management at Herhversakademi Dania in Viborg.
He withdrew after the first semester and moved to Esbjerg, where he could enroll in a six-month intensive language acquisition program. His focused determination enabled him to acquire the fluency he desired – the first main criteria – so he could enroll in a newly established program for wind turbine operators.
The second criteria was to secure an apprentice contract with a wind company to complete the education. Working for Siemens or Vestas became his goal. He understood the only way in was to apply as a substitute (vikar). After five years of effort, Daniel was given the opportunity to working for Siemens in Brande and Ølgod. In 2016 he became eligible for the wind turbine education and was accepted as an apprentice. The education took place at UddanelsesCenterRingkøbing-Skjern. The beginning of his life in Denmark, and later in Esbjerg, inspired this new passion for wind power.
Esbjerg is now Denmark’s primary port for offshore wind turbine installation. As a qualified wind turbine operator, Daniel transferred in 2019 to Siemens at Port of Esbjerg, where he resides today.
Entering politics
In 2019, Daniel co-founded the Danish-Romanian Association in Esbjerg, aiming to enhance connections between Romanian and Danish businesses and employees. He spent his time and efforts working with other Romanians, acquiring signatures to approve having a Romanian consulate established in Jylland.
After becoming a member of the 3F trade union, Daniel quickly earned a reputation as a hardworking international. The CEO of 3F decided to run for the local council, and he encouraged Daniel to join him. “At the time, they were looking for dedicated working class internationals,” Daniel recalls, “And also people with strong connections in the community. They wanted someone like me, with a young family, to represent others with similar needs.”
Inspired by his fellow union member, he took action to become an official candidate for the Socialdemokrat Party. “It was not so easy to get in,” says Daniel. But with grit and determination, he established himself as a worthy contender to represent his community. He campaigned to join the council in 2021, but was not elected.
He is entering the 2025 election with a refreshed attitude.“Now I have more experience and more knowledge,” he reflects. “Since my last campaign, I have gotten more involved with the socialdemokrats in Esbjerg, and I have a better understanding of how I can make a difference.”
Daniel is a member of the Socialdemokrat party board, and a member of the board of Esbjerg Bykreds, who are connected with the EU Parliament. Additionally, he serves on a local council called Skads Andrup Lokalråd. He is actively involved as a board member of 3F, where he serves as the union representative for Siemens Renewable Energy in Esbjerg, advocating for more than 150 trade workers.
Daniel’s campaign
As a parent with children enrolled in the public school system, Daniel is fighting for school buildings and facilities to be renovated. “The schools in Esbjerg need to be upgraded and maintained,” he asserts, “especially outside of Esbjerg city.” Additionally, he is campaigning for more funding to support non-native language learners by providing more human resources in the classrooms. “They need more teachers so they can provide extra lessons and better language support, so international students can thrive,” he says.
Another important issue for Daniel is the public transportation in Esbjerg. “The trains and buses need to be improved and prioritized,” he affirms. He is lobbying for more accessibility for residents who rely on the local transportation to commute to and from their workplace, especially those travelling from the east side to the west. “The schedule needs to accommodate everybody,” he stresses.
Of course, he is also passionate about supporting his fellow internationals, providing assurance that international workers are treated fairly and equally – according to the Danish model and conditions – while they are integrating into the Danish work system.
Final thoughts
The last time Daniel ran for office, he was disappointed to learn that voter turnout was low among internationals. This year, he hopes that will improve.
“I hope many more from the international community will choose to vote and get involved in the elections this year,” he says. “I promise to listen, to cooperate, and to act with decency and respect, and the willingness to change.”
Follow Daniel’s Facebook campaign page: https://www.facebook.com/DanielTeodorAvram
