Party: The Conservative People’s Party/Det Konservative Folkeparti
Candidate for: Local council: Rudersdal Municipality
Elena’s Journey
Elena Markova was born in Sofia, Bulgaria. She received a Master of Arts in German Literature and Scandinavian Literature, and through this education, developed an interest in Nordic languages. She was studying at Sofia University in 1989 when communism ended in Eastern Europe. This historic event left a lasting impression on Elena, as she became passionate about supporting and preserving a unified Europe.
“I have been so privileged, becoming 18 and joining Europe immediately,” says Elena. “For me, Europe has always been a dream.”
She earned scholarships to come to Denmark and learn the Danish language, which led her to become employed as a Bulgarian diplomat. While working in this role, she met her Danish husband, who was also a diplomat. They traveled the world together and started a family. Their son was born in Iceland in 1999. Shortly thereafter, they returned to Denmark, making a home in the Trørød district of Rudersal municipality, where she still currently resides.
Living outside of Copenhagen, Elena continued her career as a diplomat, becoming Head of the Commercial and Economical Section for the Nordic Countries at the Bulgarian Embassy. She studied International Business at Copenhagen Business School, and switched careers to becoming a country manager for Eurowind Energy, one of Denmark’s largest developers of renewable energy. Today, she remains invested in her two primary interests: diplomacy and the international energy industry.
Entering politics
The timing of the fall of the Iron Curtain proved to be opportune for Elena’s political journey. The combination of her educational background and acquisition of English, Danish, and other languages gave her immediate access to an internship with the European Parliament in 1990. She was an intern at the European People’s Party, whose ideology resonated with her own view.
“At the time, the democratic parties in Bulgaria were liberal and pro EU,” Elena recalls. “This was the ‘new hope’ in 1989. During my internship, I worked closely with members of the European People’s Party, where you have conservatives.” She agreed with the party’s pro-European policies, and became an enthusiastic supporter, a role which has continued throughout her life in Denmark.
“It is simply part of my destiny to be part of this 1989 generation.”
Elena became a member of Det Konservative Folkeparti (C), which matched her beliefs while also allowing her to stay home and be close to her family. “I’m a person who travels a lot in my job,” she says, “but I also need strong roots.”
After some years of dedication to the party, one of the board members asked Elena to consider running for the local/municipal elections. It was not a difficult decision.
“My son’s education was so strong, and I feel so thankful for what I have been given, so I want to give back to the municipality,” she explains. “It’s like a payback to Denmark; I want to give back to other people.”
Elena’s campaign
Elena is proud to be a Danish citizen and believes that things work very well in her own municipality (Rudersdal) especially compared to many other parts of Europe. At the same time, she acknowledges that there is always room for improvement, in her own municipality and more widely. She is committed to making a difference and believes she can contribute meaningfully. While she is very concerned about the war between Russia and the Ukraine, she recognizes that her role in this election is to consider local and municipal issues.
“We are in many ways very privileged here, but there are still a lot of problems. Sometimes if you are an insider with an international background, you can see things from a different perspective,” she says. She shares that throughout her campaigning, she has encountered many native Danes who are not aware of some of the challenges faced by internationals here.
On the issue of integration, Elena would like to create more opportunities to connect with and feel included in the community. “You get friends if you engage,” she believes. “First, learn the language, then engage. I would like to motivate internationals to volunteer and participate in the community.”
She also believes that more use of technology and AI in teaching can play an important role in supporting teachers and differentiating learning to meet each child’s needs. She wants to expand the level of resources available in local schools, to encourage children who are eager to learn and at the same time “help level up children who are struggling.” Relating her own son’s challenges, she offers a sympathetic hopefulness to those who share her concerns: “Children who are bored because they are thinking too much need tools to help them stay engaged. The municipality needs to help provide these resources.”
This concept of choice also shapes her approach to climate and energy solutions. “We need heating solutions that are both climate-friendly and create a sense of economic security,” she explains. Elena believes it should be possible to offer residents different sustainable heating options that reduce emissions while keeping costs predictable and fair. “People should feel confident that choosing a green solution is also the smart and affordable choice for their household.”
Her fourth major campaign platform focuses on economics. “Economy is not the main challenge in our municipality,” she explains. “Thanks to a conservative mayoral leadership, the budgets are well managed and there is a healthy surplus.” Elena would like to ensure that local residents get the greatest value for their money.
Final thoughts
Elena’s efforts are driven by a compassion for humanity. She wants to help create more jobs in areas such caring for the elderly. “Social workers are very difficult to find,” she notes. “Many people are lonely, and while technology can replace tasks such as laundry, I would like social workers to come and talk to elderly residents and provide the company. Technology can replace hands, but it cannot replace hearts.”
She concludes with a message of gratitude: “Of course things can always be better, but I think it’s important to appreciate what you have.”
Follow Elena’s website campaign page:
https://rudersdal.konservative.dk/profil-kan/kv25-elena-markova
Follow Elena’s Facebook campaign page:
https://www.facebook.com/elena.markova/
Follow Elena’s LinkedIn campaign page:
