How Denmark re-elects its parliament amid Trump's threats and what risks exist for Ukraine

23.03.2026, 22:02 eurointegration.com.ua

On Tuesday, 24 March, Danish citizens will head to the polls to decide the country’s future for the next four years.

Although Denmark is traditionally known for its stability, this election takes place against the backdrop of unprecedented geopolitical pressure from the United States.

Donald Trump, in his attempts to weaken Denmark, inadvertently played the role of chief political strategist for Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.

The US president’s aggressive attacks became a lifeline for Frederiksen’s Social Democrats, allowing the party to rebound from the electoral bottom.

Read more about whether this "Greenland impulse" will be enough for Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, known for her uncompromising support of Ukraine, to secure a third term is explored in the article by Khrystyna Bondarieva, a European Pravda journalist: Elections amid Trump's threats: will Denmark's pro-Ukraine prime minister keep her position?

In recent months, Denmark repeatedly voiced that the country faced its greatest challenge since World War II.

The paradox was that the threat did not come from the East.

The White House insisted that, for the security of the United States, it needed control over Greenland. According to Trump, Denmark was so weak that it could defend the Arctic island with just "two dog sleds".

Trump’s rhetoric was taken seriously in Denmark, and authorities prepared for the worst-case scenario. According to media reports, at the peak of the US president’s threats, reinforcements were urgently sent to Greenland.

Amid US polls showing strong disapproval of Trump’s stance on Greenland, the crisis began to subside. Eventually, after numerous promises from NATO allies to support Denmark, including militarily if necessary, Washington, Copenhagen and Nuuk began diplomatic negotiations.

However, this brief geopolitical storm gave Mette Frederiksen a chance, which she decided not to waste.

Riding the wave of patriotic mobilisation, her popularity began to rise.

Relying on the "Greenland boost", Frederiksen announced a snap election to be held on 24 March.

Currently, the Social Democrats have around 22% support. It is still far from the winning 27.5% in 2022, but enough for Frederiksen to have a chance to retain power (which might not have happened had the election been held seven months later).

The situation is worse for coalition partners.

The Liberals from Venstre, led by current Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen, are preparing to break their party’s 156-year-old record for poor performance, aiming for only 16 seats (down from 23 in 2022).

The Moderates, led by Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen, are also expected to lose ground, securing roughly 10 seats.

In total, all three government parties could expect 64 seats, while a majority requires 90.

Under such circumstances, Danish politics will likely return to the traditional bloc system.

In 2022, Frederiksen broke tradition and formed a so-called national unity government – a coalition with long-time rivals. The coalition with the right-wing parties provided the necessary majority to rearm Denmark and lead aid to Ukraine, but at the cost of popularity.

Typically, Denmark has been governed by either a left or right bloc. Currently, the "blue bloc" of right-wing parties is projected to win about 80 seats, while the "red bloc" of center-left parties is expected to secure 85 seats.

Here, the key figure is Lars Løkke Rasmussen, leader of the Moderates.

Adding Rasmussen to the "red bloc" provides a stable majority. There is also a chance of a coalition between Rasmussen and the blue bloc, though it is much smaller.

It is also possible that the election results could produce a minority government.