Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has resigned after her party, the Social Democrats, suffered their worst result in a century in Denmark’s elections on Tuesday.
Her left-wing bloc failed to secure a majority in the general election, after taking around 22 per cent of the vote (38 seats).
The outgoing centre-left coalition needed to secure 90 seats for a majority in the 170-seat Parliament, Final tallies show that the left-leaning ‘red bloc’ secured around 84 seats, while the right-leaning bloc took around 77.
Frederiken’s resignation, which was handed to King Frederik X at Amalienborg Palace, is standard procedure – however it underscores the scale of the shock loss.
It remains the largest party in the Folketing, Denmark’s parliament, with the Right-wing bloc also failing to security a majority – meaning that tough coalition talks will now begin.
Lars Løkke Rasmussen, the leader of the country’s centrist Moderates Party, is set to play a lead role in the upcoming discussions on forming the next government.
His son, Bergur Løkke Rasmussen, said that his father was “optimistic” given the result.
“I think he is cautiously optimistic that it will be right, and that we as a party will be allowed to take on the role that we would very much like to have, namely a government across the middle,” said Løkke Rasmussen.
Ms Frederiksen, who had been expected to possibly form a centrist coalition and serve a third term, had called an early snap election after seeing a surge in public support for her critical comments relating to Donald Trump and his threat to invade Greenland – a Danish territory.
Official results confirmed that Ms. Frederiksen’s centre-left party, along with her two partners in the outgoing government, lost ground in this election compared to the last general election held in 2022.
Frederiksen had been ready to stay on as prime minister, saying prior to the election: “The world is unsettled. There are strong winds around us. Denmark needs a stable government; a competent government. We are ready to take the lead.”
Frederiksen has been known for her tough stance on immigration – usually a feature of the conservative side of the political spectrum – however she also believes in a big state and high taxes as leader of Denmark’s Social Democrats.
The election saw the Right make gains, with the Denmark Democrats winning 9.1 per cent of the vote.
The conservative, right-wing party is the country’s youngest party, becoming the country’s fifth biggest party in the 2022 general elections.
The Green Left also made significant gains in an election which was bruising for the centre-left.
It was Frederiksen’s Social Democrats’ – who have been in power since 2019 – worst performance since 1903, despite her party winning the most votes in the general election.
Her left-wing grouping fell well short of the 90 seats needed to form a majority.
Frederiksen told her supporters last night that she was “sorry that we did not get more votes”.
“There is nothing today that can make me sad that the Social Democrats have once again become the Danes’ absolute favourite political party,” she said on Tuesday night.
“I have been responsible for this wonderful country for almost 7 years. I am still ready to take on responsibility as Denmark’s prime minister,” Frederiksen said hours before her resignation.
Domestic concerns took precedent over geopolitical concerns during the campaign – with worries voiced about the cost of living, drinking water quality, taxes, migration and welfare concerns.
Had Ms. Frederiksen won a third term and served it out, she would have become the longest-serving Danish premier since World War II.