Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen’s Social Democrats are set to suffer heavy losses in Denmark’s election, yet she may still emerge strong enough to secure a third term, according to political scientist Marlene Wind. Wind, a professor at the University of Copenhagen, told TVP World’s World Talks that while the Social Democrats are poised for their worst result in decades according to opinion polls, Frederiksen remained the most credible figure to lead Denmark through a turbulent geopolitical moment. “It’s a victory in the sense that a few months ago, she had even worse [poll numbers],” Wind said, arguing that Frederiksen had recovered support after the crisis sparked by Donald Trump’s threats toward Greenland. “You could argue that she has Donald Trump to thank for her resilience.” The polls suggest neither the left-leaning bloc nor the conservative bloc will have a clear governing majority, putting the centrist Moderates party in a potentially decisive position. Wind said Denmark’s political system leaves room for several outcomes, including a minority government backed by parties outside the cabinet, a long-standing feature of Danish politics. Greenland effect Frederiksen’s handling of Greenland has become a defining test of leadership in Denmark after months of pressure from Washington. When she announced the snap election in late February, she said Europe had to “stick together” and secure the future of the Danish commonwealth, with Greenland looming large in the campaign debate. Trump’s repeated remarks about taking control of Greenland helped turn the Arctic island into one of the biggest foreign-policy flashpoints in Europe this year. In January, thousands of people in Denmark protested against US pressure and in support of Greenland. Wind said the Greenland issue did not fully dominate the campaign day to day, however. Instead, domestic concerns — especially pollution and the environmental impact of Denmark’s massive farming sector — proved highly salient for voters. Still, she said geopolitical concerns remained a powerful backdrop when Danes considered who they trusted to lead the country. Domestic strain, right-wing pressure That trust may prove crucial in the coalition talks to come. Wind said Danish voters still see Frederiksen as “a very experienced and solid prime minister,” even though her party lost ground. She also pushed back against the idea that Denmark has escaped Europe’s broader rightward trend. According to Wind, the Danish People’s Party performed strongly, while hard-line anti-immigration politics remain influential across the political spectrum.
The polls suggest neither the left-leaning bloc nor the conservative bloc will have a clear governing majority.
