After more than two months of negotiations, Social Democrats party leader Mette Frederiksen has secured her position as the Prime Minister of Denmark. She announced on Monday (June 1) that she has agreed to form a new left-wing minority coalition government.
This coalition agreement allows the 48-year-old Frederiksen to begin her third term as Prime Minister, ending months of political deadlock since the March elections.
In the March elections, 12 parties won seats in the Danish parliament, but neither the left nor right blocs gained a majority. Additionally, Frederiksen’s Social Democrats saw a decrease in seats from 50 to 38 out of 179, marking their lowest vote share since 1903 but still retaining the position as the largest party.
The new Danish government will be formed by the left-wing Social Democrats, Socialist People’s Party, Radikale Venstre, and the center Moderate Party.
However, the new coalition government holds only 82 seats in the 179-seat parliament, making it a minority government that may need support from other left-wing parties to advance policies. This shift indicates a more left-wing stance compared to the previous government, which was a center-left/right coalition formed by the Social Democrats, Moderate Party, and the right-wing Venstre party.
Following a meeting with King Frederick X of Denmark, Frederiksen told the media, “After lengthy negotiations, we can finally form a new government.” She emphasized that the new government’s agenda aims to benefit current residents, future generations, and also prioritize animal welfare.
She added, “I believe everyone will be surprised by our determination.” Denmark’s highly industrialized pig farming industry has led to serious environmental pollution, making animal welfare and environmental issues core topics in this election.
Frederiksen stated that the government’s key policy objectives will be announced on Tuesday (June 2), and the new cabinet lineup will be officially introduced on Wednesday (June 3).
Additionally, immediate priorities for the Danish government include engaging in diplomatic dialogue with the United States on the Greenland issue, and accelerating the enhancement of defense capabilities in response to the deteriorating European security context due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.