Mette Frederiksen, 48, Denmark's prime minister, succeeded in forming a coalition government after more than two months of gridlock following the general election, beginning her third term as prime minister.
According to Reuters and others, Prime Minister Frederiksen, who leads the center-left The Social Democratic Party of Korea, said on the 1st (local time) that she had reached a final agreement to form a coalition with the Social Liberal Party, the left-wing Green Party, and the Moderate Party.
At a news conference that day, Prime Minister Frederiksen said, "I met King Frederik X and informed him that, after lengthy negotiations, it has become possible to form a government."
On Mar. 24, after the general election, Danish politics drifted for months due to difficulties in forming a coalition. With this agreement, Denmark concluded one of the longest coalition talks in its history and eased political uncertainty.
Regarding the new government, Prime Minister Frederiksen said it "will be a government for current Danes, future generations, and animals." Animal welfare was one of the main issues in this election. The specific policy direction of the new government will be unveiled on the 2nd, and the new cabinet list is scheduled to be announced on the 3rd.
Prime Minister Frederiksen faces no small number of tasks. The most urgent issue is relations with the United States. She must resolve the conflict triggered when U.S. President Donald Trump publicly revealed his intention to annex Greenland. Also cited as a task is strengthening defense capabilities to respond to Europe's security environment, which has deteriorated due to the Ukraine war now in its fifth year.
Prime Minister Frederiksen took a tough stance on the Greenland issue and at one point enjoyed high approval ratings. On that basis, she gambled by moving up the fall general election, but the result fell short of expectations. As voter dissatisfaction grew over soaring prices and rising home values, and as traditional supporters balked at the tough refugee policy, the Social Democrats recorded their worst performance since 1903.
With 12 parties entering parliament in the election, the Social Democrats secured 38 seats and narrowly maintained their status as the largest party. Prime Minister Frederiksen led the coalition talks based on that, but failed to reach a deal, and early last month even faced the risk of being ousted as she handed negotiating rights to the center-right Liberal Party.
However, the conservative Liberal Party, led by Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen, also failed to form a coalition, turning the situation around. Regaining the lead in talks, Prime Minister Frederiksen regrouped centrist and left-wing parties and ultimately secured a third term as prime minister.
Reuters predicted, "With the left-right unity government of the past four years ending and a center-left coalition taking office, Denmark's policy stance could shift in a more progressive direction than before."