Denmark's PM secures third term with new centre-left coalition government

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has secured a third consecutive term in office after reaching an agreement to form a new centre-left coalition government, ending months of political uncertainty following a fragmented parliamentary election.

Frederiksen, leader of Denmark's Social Democratic Party, announced on June 1 that she had finalised a deal to establish a minority government after lengthy negotiations among political parties, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media. 

"I have been to see His Majesty the King and announced that a government can be formed after long negotiations," Frederiksen told reporters.

The agreement comes at a critical time for Denmark, which faces growing security concerns linked to Russia's war in Ukraine and diplomatic tensions with U.S. President Donald Trump over the future of Greenland, the autonomous Danish territory that Trump has repeatedly expressed interest in acquiring.

The March 24 election produced a highly fragmented parliament, with 12 parties winning representation. While Frederiksen's Social Democrats remained the largest party, they secured only 38 of the 179 seats in parliament, down from 50 seats in the previous legislature.

Voter dissatisfaction over rising living costs contributed to losses for the governing coalition, depriving it of its parliamentary majority and triggering protracted coalition talks.

After more than two months of negotiations, Frederiksen succeeded in assembling enough support to remain prime minister despite competing efforts by the centre-right Liberal Party to lead a new government.

"It is a government platform for the people who are in Denmark and for the generations to come and also for the animals," she said.

Animal welfare was among the issues that featured prominently during the election campaign.

Frederiksen said the coalition's policy programme will be presented on June 2, while cabinet ministers will be announced the following day.

The new government will include the Social Democrats, the Social Liberals, the Left Greens and the centrist Moderates. It will rely primarily on support from the far-left Red-Green Alliance to secure a parliamentary majority, although it may also seek backing from other parties on individual legislative votes.

The coalition represents a shift to the left for Frederiksen, who over the past four years led an unusual government spanning both the centre-left and centre-right, including the Social Democrats, the Moderates and the Liberals.

Among the new administration's immediate priorities are diplomatic efforts concerning Greenland and accelerating Denmark's military modernisation as European security challenges intensify.

By Sabina Mammadli