Danish PM calls snap election amid Greenland diplomacy clash

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has announced a snap election for March 24, moving the vote forward by several months amid a diplomatic crisis over Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory within the Danish realm.

Frederiksen addressed the Danish Parliament on February 26, signalling the early election with what is traditionally called “a remark of a special nature,” Caliber.Az reports, citing a European news website.

She described the vote as crucial for Denmark and Europe, saying leaders must strengthen defence, maintain European unity, and safeguard the future of the kingdom.

The announcement follows a confrontation with U.S. President Donald Trump, who had renewed threats over Greenland, prompting a diplomatic effort that saw European countries, including Germany and France, deploy troops to the Arctic island. Analysts say Frederiksen’s handling of the crisis boosted her public standing.

“Her response to the Greenland situation reinforced her image as a steady crisis manager, similar to her leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Elisabet Svane, a political analyst at Politiken said.

Frederiksen, in office since 2019, leads a centrist coalition including the centre-left Social Democrats, the Moderates, and the centre-right Liberals. Polls indicate the coalition could face losses in the upcoming election.

The Danish leader, currently the EU’s third-longest serving head of government, has also drawn attention for diverging from Europe’s social democrats by aligning with Italy’s far-right Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on migration policy.

By Aghakazim Guliyev