Copenhagen, March 24 – People in Denmark are voting on Tuesday for a snap parliamentary election called by Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, who is seeking a third term.
The latest polls show the left-wing coalition led by Frederiksen with a nine-seat lead over the right-wing bloc. However, neither side is projected to win a majority of the 179 seats in Denmark's parliament, the Folketing, according to Euro News.
Frederiksen, who has been in office since 2019, has been praised for her leadership, particularly for not backing down despite repeated demands from US President Donald Trump to annex Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark, which Trump claims the US needs for national security reasons.
During her second term, support for Mette Frederiksen in Denmark has declined as the cost of living has increased, a key issue alongside pensions and a potential wealth tax. Frederiksen is known for her strong support for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia.
Earlier this month, Frederiksen announced proposals, including a potential "emergency brake" on asylum and strict controls on criminals who do not have legal residence. Her government announced a plan to allow the deportation of foreigners who have been sentenced to at least one year in prison for serious crimes.
Two centre-right challengers – Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen of the liberal Venstre (Left) party and Alex Vanopslagh (34) of the opposition Liberal Alliance (LA), hope to replace Mette Frederiksen as Denmark's Prime Minister, according to Euro News.
Meanwhile, the anti-immigration Danish People's Party (DF) seems well-positioned to make a comeback after a weak performance in the previous election in 2022.
The issue of Greenland received relatively little attention during the election campaign in Denmark. Instead, the campaign has focused on domestic issues, including inflation, high nitrate levels in agricultural water, and the welfare state.
During her address to the Folketing in February, Frederiksen said that voters would decide "what direction Denmark will take over the next four years," Xinhua News Agency reported. The vote will determine the composition of the 179-member parliament, which includes seats representing Greenland and the Faroe Islands.