After weeks of failed negotiations by Mette Frederiksen, the liberal leader Troels Lund Poulsen was tasked with trying to form a new coalition supported by conservative and nationalist parties.
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Denmark is undergoing a significant political reconfiguration after Social Democratic Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen failed in her attempt to form a government following the legislative elections in March. After more than a month of negotiations without results, King Frederik X decided to give the opportunity to right-wing leader Troels Lund Poulsen, head of the Venstre party, to try to build a new parliamentary majority.
Although Frederiksen's Social Democrats remained the most voted party, they suffered a severe electoral drop: they went from 50 to 38 seats in the Danish Parliament of 179 seats, their worst result since 1903. The ruling coalition also significantly declined, falling from 89 to 70 deputies.
The big surprise of the election was the growth of right-wing and anti-immigration parties. The Danish People's Party (DPP), classified as right-wing, increased from just 5 to 16 seats and became a key player for any alternative coalition. The new Citizens' Party also debuted, entering Parliament with 4 seats.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen
Venstre, the traditional conservative party led by Troels Lund Poulsen, fell from 23 to 18 seats but managed to position itself as a pivot for a possible right-wing government thanks to the support of multiple conservative, liberal, and nationalist forces.
In the first round of consultations with the king, Frederiksen received support from left and center-left parties totaling 85 deputies, while Poulsen gathered 73 supports. However, the situation changed rapidly after the breakdown of negotiations between Frederiksen and the leader of the Moderates, Lars Løkke Rasmussen.
In the second round held this week, Poulsen secured the support of the Moderates and reached 87 parliamentary supports, coming very close to the 90 needed to form a government. Frederiksen, on the other hand, fell back to 84 supports.
Troels Lund Poulsen, leader of the Venstre party
The bloc currently supporting Poulsen includes Venstre, the Danish People's Party, the Liberal Alliance, the Moderates, the Conservatives, and the Danish Democrats. Some independent lawmakers could also end up tipping the balance in favor of the right.
The political crisis also reflects a deeper change within Denmark. The rise of nationalist and anti-immigration parties marked one of the main electoral movements in recent years and seriously weakened the centrist coalition model promoted by Frederiksen.
With negotiations resuming on May 11, the entire Danish political landscape now revolves around Troels Lund Poulsen and the possibility that Denmark will soon have a government leaning to the right for the first time in several years.
