The upcoming government formation will be anything but smooth, Frederiksen emphasizes, referring to the election results where neither the blue nor the red bloc will gain a majority.
She promises to fight for social democratic policies, but wishes the party had a better negotiating position.
"We had expected a setback. It's normal when you want to govern for a third time. But of course I'm disappointed that we didn't get more votes," Frederiksen says with a serious look in her eyes.
Liberals
The current center-right government, consisting of the Social Democrats (S), the Liberals (V) and the Moderates (M), has lost a total of 10.4 percentage points.
The national conservative party Danish People's Party (DF) more than tripled its voter support and is the winner of the election in percentage terms. On the left, the Socialist People's Party increased the most with 3.3 percentage points.
At the same time, Lars Løkke Rasmussen's Moderate party once again emerges as the kingmaker with 7.7 percent of the vote, which is a dream scenario for the current Foreign Minister.
He has campaigned as the only person able to form a new center-right government and arrives at the Moderates' election vigil with a big smile and a pipe in the corner of his mouth.
In his speech, he recalls that the party was founded to break the bloc politics in Denmark.
We succeeded in that last time, and we will succeed in that today as well.
Criticizing government colleagues
Løkke Rasmussen also criticizes his current government colleagues, Mette Frederiksen (S) and Troels Lund Poulsen (V), who have both staked a claim to the post of prime minister.
Mette Frederiksen ran towards her red corner flag, he says, referring to the Social Democrats going to the election on a wealth tax.
And the other man, Troels Lund, ran towards the blue-black corner flag. Forget the outside world. Cut back on foreign aid. It's completely crazy.
Lund Poulsen counters with a call to Løkke Rasmussen:
I think you should choose a blue center-right government, he says, adding that he rules out joining a new center-right government with the Social Democrats.
Historically poor election results
When all votes are counted, Danish media notes that both S and V are recording historically poor results, with 21.9 and 10.1 percent respectively.
The Liberal Party has never performed so poorly in an election, and for the Social Democrats, it is the worst result since 1903.
When all votes are counted, it is clear that neither the Blue Bloc (77 seats) nor the Red Bloc (84 seats) will receive a majority in the Danish parliamentary elections.
The Moderates (14 seats) will thus be the swing party. To reach a majority in the Folketing, 90 seats are required.
Social Democrats:
2026: 38 seats – 21.9 percent
2022: 50 seats – 27.5 percent
Socialist People's Party:
2026: 20 seats – 11.6 percent
2022: 15 seats – 8.3 percent
The Unity List:
2026: 11 seats – 6.3 percent
2022: 9 seats – 5.1 percent
Radical Left:
2026: 10 seats – 5.8 percent
2022: 7 seats – 3.8 percent
The Alternative:
2026: 5 seats – 2.6 percent
2022: 6 seats – 3.3 percent
The Moderates:
2026: 14 seats – 7.7 percent
2022: 16 seats – 9.3 percent
Left:
2026: 18 seats – 10.1 percent
2022: 23 seats – 13.3 percent
Liberal Alliance:
2026: 16 seats – 9.4 percent
2022: 14 seats – 7.9 percent
Danish People's Party:
2026: 16 seats – 9.1 percent
2022: 5 seats – 2.6 percent
The Conservative People's Party:
2026: 13 seats – 7.6 percent
2022: 10 seats – 5.5 percent
The Danish Democrats:
2026: 10 seats – 5.8 percent
2022: 14 seats – 8.1 percent
Citizens' Party:
2026: 4 seats – 2.1 percent.
2022: The party did not run in the election
Source: Ritzau
