Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen’s Social Democrats achieved their weakest election result since 1903 in March, but nevertheless emerged victorious. The subsequent coalition negotiations lasted 69 days, a record in Danish history. Frederiksen will lead a left-oriented coalition cabinet with three other parties.
The coalition consists of the Social Democrats (38 seats), the Socialist People’s Party (20 seats), the Moderates (14 seats) and the social-liberal Radikale Venstre (10 seats). The four parties together have 82 of the 179 seats in parliament. A minority cabinet, therefore, that will be dependent on tolerable support from other parties, such as the Red-Greens (11 seats).
Coalition talks to create a centre-right cabinet collapsed last month, after which Frederiksen started talks for a left-wing coalition. In Denmark, parties are traditionally divided into a left and a right bloc, but neither bloc achieved a majority.
Resurrection
The formation of the new government means a third term in office for Frederiksen, something that was not expected six months ago. The prime minister suffered a major blow in the November 2025 municipal elections, when her party — traditionally Denmark’s largest — finished in second place. The Social Democrats lost almost half of the municipalities where they were the largest, including the capital Copenhagen.
However, her popularity skyrocketed in early 2026 when she opposed US President Donald Trump’s threat to annex Greenland. Greenland is an autonomous Danish territory.
More details about the coalition plans will be announced on Tuesday, 48-year-old Frederiksen said during a press conference after a meeting with the Danish King, Frederik X. The new ministerial team will be presented on Wednesday.