Danish Greens topple Social Democrats as government support crumbles

Denmark’s centrist government was put to the test during the EU elections, facing voters for the first time since national polls at the end of 2022.

Denmark’s three governing parties  – the Social Democrats (S&D), Venstre (Renew) and the Moderates (Renew) – obtained 36.2%, a far cry from the 50.9% it received in the 2022 national elections.

Frederiksen’s own Social Democrats had a difficult evening. Coming second with just 15.6% of the vote, its worst election result in over 125 years.

Frederiksen’s coalition partner Venstre (Renew) celebrated despite losing two of its four seats. Led by 15-year veteran MEP Morten Løkkegaard, the party defied expectations to become the largest Danish centre-right party.

The coalition’s junior partner, the Moderates, led by former prime minister and current foreign minister Lars Løkke, was disappointed at the coalition’s lack of public support.

Meanwhile, the Greens, led by the youngest MEP in the outgoing parliament, Kira Marie Peter-Hansen, came out on top with 17,4 % of the vote.

The Greens and the Social Democrats will each get three of Denmark’s 15 seats.

You get a seat! You get a seat! You get a seat!

Of the record 11 parties running this year, 10 of them won at least one seat. Only one party, The Alternative (Greens), failed to win.

The Danish People’s Party (ID), The Red-Green Alliance (GUE/NGL), the Conservative People’s Party (EPP), Liberal Alliance (EPP), Denmark Democrats (Non-Inscrits), The Social Liberals (Renew), and The Moderates (Renew) all secured a seat each.

Danish voters elected a politically diverse group, with all EU groups except ECR receiving MEPs.

Frederiksen was absent from her party’s election celebrations at Christianborg Palace in Copenhagen but commented on the results on Instagram, congratulating the Greens and highlighting their shared political beliefs.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C8AwDI3tloE/

Complete nationwide results, including personal vote tallies, are expected on Monday.

(Charles Szumski | Euractiv.com)

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