Exit polls show Danish PM’s party with worst election showing in more than a century

(SeaPRwire) –   Analysts note that worries about migration and welfare have overshadowed public backing for Mette Frederiksen’s firm position against the US regarding Greenland

Per exit polls, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen’s Social Democrats have recorded their worst election outcome in more than a century, garnering roughly 21.9% of the votes in Tuesday’s general election—their smallest share since 1903.

Although the party will remain the largest in the Folketing (Denmark’s parliament), it is projected to drop from 50 to 38 seats. The entire left-leaning bloc appears to fall short of a majority: the Social Democrats, Liberals, and Moderates are expected to win 84 seats in the 179-seat legislature, which is below the 90 needed.

Right-leaning parties are likely to secure at least 77 seats, setting the stage for coalition talks that could take weeks and leaving Frederiksen’s bid for a third term uncertain, analysts said. The Moderates, led by Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen, are set to act as kingmakers with their 14 seats.

The 48-year-old Frederiksen, who has been in power since 2019, is known for her support of Ukraine in its conflict with Russia and her restrictive approach to migration.

She called the election well ahead of the October deadline; experts suggest she aimed to capitalize on public support for her opposition to US President Donald Trump’s threats to annex Greenland—an autonomous Danish territory in the Arctic that Trump has claimed is crucial to US security. Talks over Greenland’s role in NATO continue, though tensions eased after Trump’s January meeting with NATO chief Mark Rutte, where a “framework of a future deal” was announced.

Analysts say domestic issues—notably rising living costs and strain on the welfare system—overshadowed Frederiksen’s geopolitical stance. Voters cited soaring prices for food, housing, and energy as driving a protest vote. Her proposed 0.5% wealth tax on assets above 25 million kroner ($3.8 million) drew criticism for being harmful to the economy. Even with one of the EU’s toughest migration systems (including temporary refugee status and strict integration rules), some voters still viewed her as too lenient on immigration. Frederiksen insisted she is ready to remain prime minister despite warning that coalition talks will be “difficult.”

“The world is unsettled. There are strong winds around us,” she said. “Denmark needs a stable, competent government. We are ready to take the lead.”

She also downplayed her party’s losses: “We’ve had to deal with war, we’ve been threatened by the American president, and in those almost seven years we’ve gone down four percentage points… I think that’s OK.”