Denmark's Political Shift: Social Democrats Face Election Losses

Mette Frederiksen has acknowledged that the decline in support for the Social Democrats was greater than anticipated, following significant election losses across Denmark. In the recent municipal and regional elections, the ruling party lost over five percentage points, dropping from 28.4% in 2021 to 23.2%.

This shift marked a historic defeat as the Social Democrats lost control of Copenhagen for the first time in over a century. Despite remaining the largest municipal party in Denmark, the results signal a worrying trend for Frederiksen's center-left party.

Notably, support for the far-right Danish People's Party increased from 4.09% to 5.9%. In Copenhagen, Frederiksen's close ally, Pernille Rosenkrantz-Theil, failed to secure the lord mayor position, which has now been awarded to Sisse Marie Welling of the Green Left Party, who garnered 17.9% of the vote.

The Red-Green Alliance maintained its status as Copenhagen's largest party, achieving 22.1%. Conceding defeat, Frederiksen noted rising food prices and a divide between rural and urban areas as contributing factors to her party's decline, while also linking voter dissatisfaction to her hardline immigration policies.

Analysts suggest that voter fatigue over these policies may have played a pivotal role in the election outcomes. Political science professor Peter Thisted Dinesen stated that the losses represent a significant setback for the Social Democrats, particularly in key municipalities.

While Frederiksen's position as prime minister is not immediately threatened, the election results are likely to prompt extensive analysis and discussion within the party about the underlying causes of this electoral shift.

Other parties, such as the Socialist People's Party and the Liberal Alliance, experienced gains, while the Denmark Democrats, participating in local elections for the first time, also made a mark. Meanwhile, traditional parties like Venstre and the Conservatives saw a reduction in votes but managed to maintain or gain mayorships.