A member of Denmark’s far-right Dansk Folkeparti (DF) party has apologised after publishing an advert in which the group’s logo resembled a swastika.
Anne Nielsen, chairwoman of a DF local association, mistakenly downloaded the doctored logo from the internet to use in an advert for a local Zealand newspaper, Lørdagsavisen Køge.
The motif used in the ad differed from the usual one bearing arrows painted as Danish flags; subtle extensions of the lines formed the image of the Nazi emblem. The revised badge is thought to have been designed by blogger Ole Wolf, who thought it reflected DF’s policies “a little more accurately”.
The gaffe is even more embarrassing for the party as the meeting the advert promotes involves MEP Morten Messerschmidt, who allegedly gave a Nazi salute in a Tivoli bar in 2007.
Ms Nielsen has taken responsibility for the error, claiming she did not spot the delicate differences between the two logos. “It is a deeply regrettable mistake for which I apologise,” Nielsen told koegenews.dk. “Mistakes happen. If I could do it again differently, I would. I should have been more vigilant. I’m really sorry,” she added.
Wolf, on the other hand, told Politiken that he is delighted DF has finally “taken the suggestion”. He may even be entitled to some money under copyright laws.