Denmark’s prime minister has called an early election, hoping to benefit from a surge in support following her firm stance against Donald Trump’s threats over Greenland. Mette Frederiksen, in office since 2019, announced that Danes will go to the polls on 24 March, well ahead of the statutory deadline of 31 October.
The decision comes after the Social Democrats suffered heavy losses in November’s local elections, losing control of Copenhagen for the first time in a century. However, recent polls have shown a recovery, attributed partly to Frederiksen’s handling of the crisis over the Arctic territory. A Megafon poll for TV2 last month put support for her party at 22.7%, projecting 41 seats in parliament, up from 32 in early December.
Addressing parliament, Frederiksen said the election would be “decisive” for Denmark and Europe, pledging to rearm and “stand on our own feet”. She also announced plans for a wealth tax to raise 6bn kroner (£700m) for primary schools, and proposed abolishing property tax for homes worth less than 1m kroner.
Frederiksen has gained international prominence in recent weeks as she rallied European leaders in response to Trump’s threats to annex Greenland. She said Denmark must redefine its relationship with the United States, previously seen as its closest ally, and stressed the need for European unity.
Peter Thisted Dinesen, a politics professor at the University of Copenhagen, said the US pressure had had a “rallying” effect on Frederiksen. “The Greenland crisis has arguably aided her by conveying her ability to steer the country through an international crisis,” he added, noting that the right-wing Danish People’s party had dropped in the polls.
