Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen’s Social Democrats emerged as the largest party in Denmark’s general election, but suffered their worst electoral result in more than a century as her left-wing bloc failed to secure a parliamentary majority.
With 21.9 percent of the vote, the Social Democrats still won the most seats in Denmark’s parliament. However, the result represents the party’s weakest performance since 1903 and leaves Frederiksen short of the 90 seats required to form a majority government.
The Social Democrats have governed Denmark since 2019, and Frederiksen acknowledged the disappointing outcome while addressing supporters after the results were announced.
“I’m sorry that we did not get more votes,” she said, while emphasizing that her party remains the country’s most popular political force.
“There is nothing today that can make me sad that the Social Democrats have once again become the Danes’ absolute favourite political party,” she added.
Despite the setback, Frederiksen may still secure a third term as prime minister because Denmark typically governs through coalition administrations. However, negotiations to form a new government are expected to be complex and could take days or even weeks.
The left-wing “red bloc,” led by the Social Democrats, secured a combined total of 84 seats, narrowly ahead of the right-wing “blue bloc,” which won 77 seats. Both alliances remain short of the 90-seat majority threshold in the 179-seat parliament.
The election produced a fragmented political landscape with 12 parties winning representation, making coalition building especially challenging.
Frederiksen said she remains prepared to continue leading the country if she can secure enough support in parliament.
“I have been responsible for this wonderful country for almost seven years. I am still ready to take on responsibility as Denmark’s prime minister,” she said.
The Social Democrats’ main conservative rival, the Liberal Party Venstre, also recorded its weakest result in more than a century, winning just 10.1 percent of the vote and falling behind the Green Left party, SF.
Attention has now shifted to the centrist Moderates party, which holds 14 seats and could play the decisive role in determining the next government.
The party’s leader, former prime minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen, signaled openness to forming a cross-bloc coalition.
“We’re standing in the middle,” Rasmussen told supporters. “We’re ready.”
However, Troels Lund Poulsen, leader of the Liberals and the largest party within the right-wing bloc, rejected the idea of entering another coalition with the Social Democrats and instead urged Rasmussen to help form a new right-leaning government.
Political analysts say the most likely outcome could be a center-left coalition involving the Social Democrats, the Red-Green Alliance, the Moderates and the Danish Social Liberal Party.
The election comes after a challenging period for Frederiksen, whose popularity has declined after nearly six years in power despite widespread approval of her leadership during several international crises.
The campaign also unfolded amid geopolitical tensions sparked by U.S. President Donald Trump’s repeated demands for the United States to acquire Greenland, the semi-autonomous Danish territory.
Frederiksen had called the election earlier than expected, hoping that strong public support for her handling of the Greenland dispute would help secure another term.
Instead, domestic issues dominated the campaign, including rising living costs, economic concerns and pressure on Denmark’s welfare system. Environmental issues also gained attention, particularly concerns about pesticide contamination in drinking water linked to the country’s large pig farming industry and the climate impact of agriculture.