Denmark: Frederiksen calls new elections

Denmark's beleaguered Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has called new elections for 1 November. In a surprise move, the Social Democrat also announced that she would seek to form a broad coalition government that could include conservative parties. The Conservatives and Liberals, however, have rejected the proposal. Can Frederiksen stay in power with this tactic - and would that be good for Denmark?

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Politiken (DK) /

Time for a broad coalition against the crisis

Politiken is in favour of a broad coalition government:

“We need a majority that has the courage, the will and the skills to rethink policies so that we as a nation can get through these difficult times in the best possible way and reform the welfare society for the benefit of future generations. But we also need a majority that recognises a basic characteristic of crises: we cannot solve them ourselves. They can be exacerbated nationally, but they can only be resolved through close international cooperation. We wish everyone a good election campaign.”

Göteborgs-Posten (SE) /

Will Frederiksen win using Swedish tactics?

The conservative parties are divided among themselves, Göteborgs-Posten notes, hinting that although it failed in Sweden, the Social Democrats' strategy of dividing the conservative camp could work in Denmark:

“A Social Democratic party in danger of losing power turns to the centre-right, where two parties are competing for leadership, and a prime minister seeks to turn the economic crisis and the war in Ukraine to her advantage. This feels familiar. In Sweden, the Social Democrats did not manage to hold on to power. But perhaps this Swedish strategy is what will save Mette Frederiksen.”

Berlingske (DK) /

New solutions needed

Berlingske says the time has come to vote Frederiksen out of office:

“The crisis has made clear that the government lacks direction. The economic problems need to be solved with fundamental reforms, but the government has no answer. The politicians must see the citizens as their main focus, not just a resource that can be shifted around at will. ... At the same time the strict immigration policies must be maintained and strengthened. There are many reasons why Mette Frederiksen's term should remain short.”