Danes vote as Mette Frederiksen seeks third term as PM

What’s Happening

Real talk: Frederiksen enjoyed a surge in popularity for standing up to the US over Greenland but her support is down on 2022.

Danes vote as Mette Frederiksen seeks third term as PM 21 minutes ago Save Adrienne Murray , In Copenhagen and Paul Kirby , Europe digital editor Save AFP Mette Frederiksen clutched widespread acclaim in Denmark for her handling of the Greenland crisis Danes are voting in an election with Prime Minister Mette Frederiksens Social Democrats aiming for a third term. Frederiksen, 48, called the vote months earlier than expected, buoyed for her handling of US President Donald Trumps threat to annex Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory. (let that sink in)

Her Social Democrats have took an L support since the 2022 elections and she is facing a strong challenge from two parties on the centre-right, including the Liberal Venstre party of Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen.

The Details

Denmark is run and Tuesdays vote will decide whether power will stay with a left-win bloc or move to the right. Latest opinion polls give Frederiksens Social Democrats the largest of the vote, on more than 20%, well ahead of the Liberals and Green Left.

Although the election is not being fought on the Greenland crisis, Frederiksen is gambling that the “Trump bump” that boosted her poll numbers after her defiant stance on Greenland will be enough to hand her a third term in a tight election race. Denmark, which has long been one of the closest US allies in Nato, has rebuffed Trumps bids to take over Greenland, and the Danes and their European partners sent a military contingent to the island last January.

Why This Matters

Broadly-speaking, but, there is a wide consensus in Denmark on foreign policy, so it is domestic concerns that have dominated the campaign trail. Instead, the state of the economy and the cost of living are key issues, with Frederiksen proposing a 0. 5% wealth tax for the richest 20,000 Danes.

This is part of the larger geopolitical picture unfolding right now.

The Bottom Line

5% wealth tax for the richest 20,000 Danes. The high level of pesticides in drinking water because of pig farming and agriculture has also become a concern for voters, with some parties including Frederiksens calling for a ban.

What do you think about all this?