69 days without a government. Danish Prime Minister finally formed a minority cabinet

Mette Frederiksen. Photo: Kristian Tuxen Ladegaard Berg/NurPhoto via Getty Images

After a meeting with King Frederik X, Mette Frederiksen informed journalists that she would present the new cabinet on Wednesday. She will lead it for the third time. According to her, the agreement was reached after long and intense negotiations.

Following the Danish parliamentary elections in March, 12 parties entered parliament.

According to a palace statement, the coalition will consist of the Social Democrats, the Socialist People's Party, the center-left party "Radical Left," and the centrist party "Moderates."

The Social Democrats, traditionally Denmark's largest party, received only 21.8% of the votes (38 seats) in the March elections — their worst result since 1903. Compared to the previous parliamentary convocation, the Social Democrats lost 12 seats. Nevertheless, 48-year-old Frederiksen has a reputation as a good anti-crisis leader. Her election campaign was based on the slogan "a prime minister you can count on."

The Socialist People's Party has 20 seats, the "Moderates" have 14, and the "Radical Left" has 10. Thus, the new coalition has a total of 82 seats, while a simple majority in the 179-seat parliament requires 90.

The Danish public broadcaster DR noted on its website that the country lived 69 days without a new government. The elections took place on March 24.

They were supposed to happen this year no later than October 31 anyway, but many link such an early voting date to Frederiksen's rising ratings amidst Trump's threats to gain control over Greenland — an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. He considers Greenland strategically important for US national security.

The new government will have to continue confronting Trump.

In addition, Danes are concerned about inflation and the rising cost of living, the pension age (the highest in the EU), nuclear energy, and petrol prices. The "green" agenda is also important: animal rights, high levels of pesticides in drinking water due to pig farming, and the overall impact of agriculture on the climate became important issues for voters.

Frederiksen wrote on Instagram late Monday evening that the policy she intends to pursue will be good for people living in Denmark now, as well as for future generations and for animals.

• 2
• 0
• 0
• 0
• 0
• 0
• 0
• 0