Denmark Faces Election as PM Seizes on Greenland Crisis
The upcoming parliamentary election in Denmark on March 24 marks a pivotal moment for Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. Her controversial stance against US pressure over Greenland has elevated her international profile and bolstered her popularity domestically, despite ongoing criticisms about her handling of welfare services and rising living costs.
Frederiksen’s recent efforts to rally European leaders against Trump’s renewed interest in annexing the Arctic island have garnered significant attention. Opinion polls suggest that this stance has helped stabilize Frederiksen’s standing as a leader, having previously gained traction through her quick response to the COVID-19 pandemic and support for Ukraine.
This election will be crucial for testing whether voters will commend her global leadership or punish her administration for perceived inaction at home. Critics argue she struggles to provide concrete solutions due to her two-term tenure and persistent focus on inequality, which has not yet been addressed by her government.
The current Danish coalition includes Frederiksen’s Social Democrats, the Liberal Party under Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen, and the Moderates led by Lars Lokke Rasmussen. This cross-partisan coalition has maintained a majority since 2022 as a crisis government, but recent polls indicate it might lose its position if parties shift to more traditional left-right alignments.
The Social Democrats have faced setbacks in local elections, losing the Copenhagen mayoralty for the first time in 87 years. Although their support was downgraded to 17% in December polls, it has since rebounded to a 22% approval rating bolstered by Frederiksen’s handling of the Greenland dispute.
Voter concerns include rising food prices, welfare issues, inequality, and immigration policies, which have played into political discussions. In January, the government proposed easing deportation rules for foreign nationals, potentially sparking conflict with European human rights frameworks.
As voters weigh their options, Frederiksen’s party aims to underscore its strict immigration stance, a factor that contributed to its 2019 victory but remains under scrutiny as it attempts to reestablish the Great Prayer Day public holiday. The Green Left party, once aligned with the Social Democrats and currently in opposition, has pledged to reinstate this holiday if they win.
The upcoming election in Denmark will be an essential test of Frederiksen’s leadership capabilities and her administration’s ability to navigate both domestic and international challenges.