Denmark's King Frederik has asked a centre-right politician to attempt to form a new government after Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen failed to assemble a ruling coalition, a development that has sent shockwaves through the political establishment.
Political Turmoil in Denmark
The announcement on Friday evening shook the political landscape, as Frederiksen has been a dominant figure in Danish politics for decades. Her Social Democratic Party secured the most votes in the March parliamentary elections, but it was their worst performance since 1903, and no party achieved a majority.
Frederiksen had been working to form a left-leaning government with the backing of Lars Løkke Rasmussen's centre-right Moderates. Rasmussen, a former foreign minister, is considered a kingmaker due to his position between Frederiksen and Troels Lund Poulsen, the leader of the centre-right Liberal Party.
However, Frederiksen struggled to gain support from Denmark's increasingly fragmented political parties. On Friday night, Rasmussen walked out of negotiations and threw his support behind Poulsen.
King's Request and Coalition Challenges
King Frederik then asked Poulsen to try to build a new government. The king issued a statement requesting that Poulsen "lead the negotiations with a view to forming a government," excluding the Social Democrats and the Moderates. Poulsen now faces the daunting task of assembling a coalition of right-wing parties, a fragile process that could take weeks. This attempt to form a government has already become the longest in Danish history.
Danish politics has shifted increasingly to the right in recent years, with several right-wing parties making gains in the March elections. The far-right Danish People's Party performed particularly well, tripling its vote share to 9.1%.
Immigration and Policy Shifts
Immigration has become a hot-button issue in Denmark, mirroring trends across Europe. Even left-leaning parties have adopted stricter policies on immigration control. The king's statement indicated that the Danish People's Party had pushed for Poulsen under the condition that the new government pursue "the explicit goal of introducing measures that will lead to Muslim net-exodus of Denmark."
After meeting with the king on Friday afternoon, Frederiksen acknowledged the possibility of a right-wing government, stating: "The Danes … have composed the [parliament] in such a way that a rightwing government can absolutely be formed. It might very well be that what we are seeing now is in fact the beginning of that."
Frederiksen's Legacy and Future Prospects
Frederiksen is widely popular for her handling of Donald Trump's attempt to acquire Greenland, where she resisted intense pressure from the US administration. However, she performed less effectively on domestic issues such as taxation and immigration. Analysts suggest that while Frederiksen is currently down, she is not out. If Poulsen fails to form a coherent coalition among right-wing parties, the prime minister could return with a coalition of her own.
