The Failings of the Danish Social Democrat Party
On Tuesday 24 March, Denmark held its 72nd parliamentary election after a relatively short electoral campaign with a low voter turnout (by Danish standards) compared to previous years of 83.98%. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen (Social Democrats) expressed she felt that ‘election fever was raging’ and it needed to happen sooner rather than later in the electoral year 2026.
It was a tumultuous affair with little to show for it as all 14 parties managed to clear the threshold for at least one seat (2% of the votes) out of the 179 seats in Parliament and no government has been appointed as of yet. Discussions on possible coalitions started on Friday the 27th, led by Mette Frederiksen, due to the lack of a clear majority (of 90 seats) for any one party or bloc.
This is both a testament to the unusually low threshold for representation in the Danish parliament, and to the Social Democrats’ failure to attract broad support, contradicting their current slogan: “We bear a responsibility for one another”.
While the Social Democrats won the most seats (38), and are most likely to become one of the governing parties, it was still their worst election in over 100 years. Danish political commentator and author Lars Olsen believes it’s due to them “sleeping with the enemy”, i.e. catering to the ‘centre’ and centre-right by, for example, slashing benefits and tightening an already very tight immigration process showing little care for the well-being of Danish workers and their dependents.
Where Does the Election Leave the Red-Green Alliance?
The Danish socialist party, Red-Green Alliance (Enhedslisten), had a great election winning 6.3 percent and an additional 2 seats, from 9 to 11. Their political spokesperson, Pelle Dragsted, more than doubled his vote in Copenhagen (to over 30,000) from the last election, making him the candidate with the most individual votes in the area. He is currently hoping for a ‘red bloc’ government, but there is an important catch.
While minority governments are common in Denmark, meaning parties will have to form coalitions to gain a majority in Parliamentary votes, this year’s election has become somewhat of a mathematical puzzle.
To become part of the government, or be viewed as a supporting party rather than the opposition, the Red-Green Alliance must of course be invited by the Social Democrats but also accept a very broad spectrum coalition themselves.
In leading the previous government, the Social Democrats conducted right-wing policies, including a sharp increase in resources to the military. A coalition would also involve working with The Alternative (a small leftist green, but pro-European, party) and The Liberal Party (Radikale), which would not be a first, but also the elusive ‘centre’ party, the Moderates.
The Moderates have former Prime Minister Lars Løkken Rasmussen at the helm, and has – despite winning fewer seats than in the last election – become the de facto tie-breaker party, or ‘kingmaker’, with 14 mandates.
The Moderates are happy to join a government with either bloc, despite campaigning on the basis of belonging to neither when they first gained traction in 2021. following a split in the centre-right Liberal Party (Venstre).
Lars Løkke has stated repeatedly during the electoral campaign that he will not want to form a government that includes parties on the ‘extreme’ left or right.
What Happens Next?
The election appears to follow the trend of most other Western countries in that votes are split more than ever. This could indicate people want change and clearer stances on what matters to them most – feeling safe and secure in a time of global unrest – but are still unsure as to how this can be achieved.
While you may think Danes await the formation of a government with baited breath, many appear exasperated. Danes may feel especially vulnerable and in need of clarity and unity with Trump’s threats towards Greenland looming in the background, Russian submarines traversing Danish waters and the war on Iran splitting the global, political landscape.
The hope is, according to Pelle Dragsted, that the Red-Green Alliance can influence the government as a supporting party, by urging the importance of a united Denmark with the rights of its workers to the fore, along with more social security for the unemployed, children, young adults in education and senior citizens.
Dragsted will be further encouraged in this direction if the Green Left (which finished in second place with 20 seats) become part of the government, as their policies often align. But whether Green Left joins the new government or continues to act as a supporting party, it will bear joint responsibility for the capitalist policies that the government will pursue, regardless of who becomes the next prime minister. Instead, the left should aim to establish itself as a clear left-wing opposition and build the struggle against the new government and endless capitalist crisis.
References (in Danish):
https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/politik/reels/derfor-udskrev-statsministeren-valg-i-dag
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Danish_general_election
https://www.dst.dk/da/Statistik/emner/borgere/demokrati/folketingsvalg
