Denmark’s prime minister, Mette Frederiksen, has formed a centre-left minority coalition after 69 days of negotiations – the longest government formation process in the country’s history – securing a third term in office and vowing to address mounting tensions with the United States over Greenland.
After a record-breaking 69 days of negotiations, Denmark’s prime minister, Mette Frederiksen, has formed a centre-left minority coalition, retaining her position as head of government. The Social Democratic leader will now serve a third consecutive term.
“I have succeeded in forming a centre-left, four-party coalition,” Frederiksen told journalists in Odense. The new minority government also includes the Green Left, the Social Liberals and the Moderates.
The cabinet took 69 days to assemble following tense elections in March, making it the longest such process in the nation’s history.
The government’s primary challenge will be managing relations with the US president. Disagreements persist over Greenland, as the American leader’s desire to gain control over the semi-autonomous territory remains unresolved.
Frederiksen took a political risk by calling an early election in the face of threats from Donald Trump regarding the Danish dependency. The strategy paid off, allowing the Social Democrats to recover in the polls and emerge as the dominant political force. Frederiksen first came to power in 2019 on a platform of tightening immigration policy.
Danish voters went to the polls in a general election held against the backdrop of US claims over Greenland. Following the vote, Frederiksen tendered her resignation after failing to secure a parliamentary majority. Since January, Denmark has been in talks with the United States over Greenland, but the core disagreements remain unresolved, according to foreign minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen. Negotiations have continued despite the election campaign.
