Mette Frederiksen has secured a third term as Denmark’s prime minister as a coalition deal was reached around 10 weeks after parliamentary elections.
Social Democrat Frederiksen will lead a new centre-left government consisting of four parties.
Late on Monday, Frederiksen informed King Frederik X of her intention to form a coalition made up of her Social Democrats, the Socialist People’s Party, the right-wing liberal Venstre party and the centrist Moderates.
The four parties combined hold 82 seats in the Danish parliament, short of the 90 required for a majority.
Although minority governments are common in Denmark, a governing coalition must avoid facing a majority opposition in parliament. To ensure this, the new government needs the support of, for example, the eleven seats held by the left-wing Red-Green Alliance. The party announced on Facebook on Monday night that it would have “big news for Denmark tomorrow.”
This is Frederiksen’s third term, following her wins in 2019 and 2022. She had previously lost the mandate to form a new government after failing to reach a coalition deal despite weeks of negotiations.
The leader of the right-wing liberal Venstre party, Troels Lund Poulsen, was then given a chance to form a government but his efforts also failed. Frederiksen has been back in charge for just over a week.
Former Danish prime minister, and current foreign minister, Lars Løkke Rasmussen and his centrist Moderates once again played a crucial role in the government negotiations. Rasmussen spoke with both sides and broke off negotiations twice.
Frederiksen plans to present the new government’s priorities on Tuesday. The new ministers are then scheduled to be presented to the king on Wednesday.
