Danish general election, November 2022

Author (Corporate)
Publication Date 2022
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Summary:

Information Guide focusing on the early legislative election held in Denmark on 1 November 2022.

Further information:

Following the last parliamentary election in 2019, a minority government was formed by the centre-left Social Democrats (A), supported in Parliament by the other political parties of the so-called Red Bloc. The social democratic leader Mette Frederiksen became Prime Minister as a result. In July 2022, the leader of the Social Liberal Party encouraged the Prime Minister to call an election for October following the publication of the final report of a Commission of Inquiry into the killing of minks during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.

On 5 October, Ms Frederiksen announced a snap parliamentary election to be held on 1 November. The 179 members of the Danish Parliament (Folketing) are elected in Denmark (175), the Faroe Islands (2) and Greenland (2). The 175 seats include 135 seats elected in ten multi-member constituencies by proportional representation, and 40 leveling seats, allocated to parties in order to address any imbalance in the distribution of the constituency seats. The main threshold for levelling seats is 2%.

Economic uncertainty, as well as security matters - including energy and defence - were among the most salient topics during the electoral campaign. The incumbent expressed the desire to be joined in government by other political forces, and to reach out beyond the traditional Danish bloc politics. This was rejected by some of the supporting parties in the Red Bloc, as well as by the Blue Bloc. However, the centre-right Moderates (M) - founded by former centre-right Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen - welcomed the idea and its position outside of bloc politics gained momentum ahead of the election.

The Social Democrats were confirmed as the largest party at the polls (27,5%) and achieved their best results in over 20 years. The centre-right Venstre (V) was second (13,3%) but it was nonetheless their worst result in more than 30 years. The Moderates were third (9,3%) but failed to position themselves as kingmakers following this election. Despite acquiring a slim parliamentary majority, Ms Frederiksen resigned as leader of the Red Bloc to seek a new government beyond bloc politics.

Related Links
Official
OSCE: ODIHR: Denmark: Early General Elections, 1 November 2022 https://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/denmark/529509

News
The Local (Denmark): Tag: 2022 Danish Election https://www.thelocal.dk/tag/2022-danish-election/
Politico: Poll of Polls: Denmark https://www.politico.eu/europe-poll-of-polls/denmark/
Politico, 05/10/2022: Denmark to hold early election in November https://www.politico.eu/article/denmark-hold-early-general-election-november-mette-frederiksen/
Reuters, 05/10/2022: Denmark's PM calls election, seeks broad coalition amid security tensions https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/denmarks-government-verge-calling-an-election-launches-ad-campaign-2022-10-05/
Bloomberg, 08/08/2022: Danish Ruling Bloc to Lose Power as Election Nears, Poll Shows https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-08-08/danish-ruling-bloc-to-lose-power-as-election-nears-poll-shows
Politico, 05/10/2022: Brought to the brink by mink: Denmark’s PM faces election https://www.politico.eu/article/brought-to-the-brink-denmark-prime-minister-faces-elections/
France24, 05/10/2022: Tight race seen as Denmark calls November election https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20221005-tight-race-seen-as-denmark-calls-november-election
Le Monde, 05/10/2022: Danish prime minister calls early general election amid mink scandal https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2022/10/05/danish-prime-minister-calls-early-general-election-for-november-1_5999225_4.html
EurActiv, 06/10/2022: Danish PM called snap elections following mink-gate scandal https://www.euractiv.com/section/all/short_news/danish-pm-called-snap-elections-following-mink-gate-scandal/
Reuters, 28/10/2022: Denmark's 'hygge' bubble bursts as security election looms https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/denmarks-hygge-bubble-bursts-security-election-looms-2022-10-27/
The Independent (UK), 31/10/2022: Danish election could pave the way for a centrist government https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/denmark-ap-mette-frederiksen-lars-lokke-rasmussen-inger-stojberg-b2214106.html
Politico, 31/10/2022: ‘Comeback kid’ Lars Løkke Rasmussen at center of Danish politics once again https://www.politico.eu/article/denmark-elections-lars-lokke-rasmussen-at-center-of-danish-politics-once-again/
BBC News, 01/11/2022: Mink cull and TV drama: Five things to watch in Danish election https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-63468599
Politico, 01/11/2022: Danish election paves way for centrist government https://www.politico.eu/article/danish-vote-paves-way-for-centrist-government-exit-poll/
The Guardian, 01/11/2022: Danish election: PM may need new party’s support to stay in charge https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/nov/01/danish-election-mette-frederiksen-new-party-support
BBC News, 02/11/2022: Denmark election: Centre-left bloc comes out on top https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-63481675
Reuters, 02/11/2022: Denmark's PM to explore broad coalition after narrow election win https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/denmarks-pm-resigns-hopes-form-new-centrist-government-2022-11-02/
The Independent (UK), 02/11/2022: Denmark election: Tight result keeps Social Democrats in power as left-wing bloc wins outright majority https://www.independent.co.uk/independentpremium/world/danish-election-result-social-democrats-b2216355.html
Bloomberg, 02/11/2022: Danish Leader’s Sudden Victory Paves Way for Broad Coalition https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-11-02/danish-leader-s-surprise-victory-sets-stage-for-broad-coalition
El Pais, 02/11/2022: Denmark’s Social Democrats win election despite controversy over massive mink cull https://english.elpais.com/international/2022-11-02/denmarks-social-democrats-win-election-despite-controversy-over-massive-mink-cull.html
Le Monde, 02/11/2022: In Denmark, PM Frederiksen's left-wing bloc snatches election victory https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2022/11/02/in-denmark-pm-frederiksen-s-left-wing-bloc-snatches-election-victory_6002633_4.html
The Irish Times, 02/11/2022: Denmark’s centre-left ruling parties win cliffhanger election https://www.irishtimes.com/world/europe/2022/11/02/denmarks-centre-left-ruling-parties-win-cliffhanger-election/
RTÉ News, 02/11/2022: Danish PM to form broader government after slim victory https://www.rte.ie/news/world/2022/1102/1332689-denmark-election/
The Guardian, 02/11/2022: Denmark election result keeps Social Democrats at the helm https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/nov/02/denmark-election-result-keeps-social-democrats-at-the-helm
Bloomberg, 03/11/2022: Denmark Elects Record 44% Women to Parliament With Female PM Set to Win Another Term https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-11-03/denmark-elects-record-44-women-to-parliament-nearing-parity

Commentary and Analysis
Euro|topics, October 2022: Denmark: Frederiksen calls new elections https://www.eurotopics.net/en/289542/
Robert Schuman Foundation: European Election Monitor (EEM): Analysis, 18/10/2022: Right and left running neck and neck two weeks before the Danish early general elections https://www.robert-schuman.eu/en/eem/2011-right-and-left-running-neck-and-neck-two-weeks-before-the-danish-early-general-elections
Euronews, 25/10/2022: Your quick and easy guide to Denmark's immigration-dominated election https://www.euronews.com/2022/10/25/your-quick-and-easy-guide-to-denmarks-immigration-dominated-election
London School of Economics (LSE): EUROPP Blog, 27/10/2022: Political economy model forecast: The left will win a comfortable victory in the Danish general election https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2022/10/27/political-economy-model-forecast-the-left-will-win-a-comfortable-victory-in-the-danish-general-election/
Bloomberg, 30/10/2022: How a Mink Cull Sent Denmark Into Tuesday’s Election https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-10-30/how-a-mink-cull-sent-denmark-into-tuesday-s-election-quicktake
The New York Times, 01/11/2022: What to Know About Denmark’s Election https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/01/world/europe/denmark-election.html
Euro|topics, November 2022: Denmark heads to the polls https://www.eurotopics.net/en/290931/
Euronews, 02/11/2022: Denmark election: From kingmakers to comeback kids, five things we learned from the vote https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2022/11/02/denmark-election-from-kingmakers-to-comeback-kids-five-things-we-learned-from-the-vote
France24, 02/11/2022: Mette Frederiksen, the face of the anti-immigration left in Denmark https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20221102-mette-frederiksen-the-face-of-the-anti-immigration-left-in-denmark
The New Statesman, 02/11/2022: Mette Frederiksen’s centre-left bloc wins a slim majority in Denmark elections https://www.newstatesman.com/world/europe/2022/11/denmark-elections-2022-anti-immigration
The Economist, 03/11/2022: The Social Democrats hold on in Denmark https://www.economist.com/europe/2022/11/03/the-social-democrats-hold-on-in-denmark
Euro|topics, November 2022: Denmark: Frederiksen secures narrow victory https://www.eurotopics.net/en/291009/
The Irish Times: Opinion, 04/11/2022: Danish election good news for centrist politics https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2022/11/04/danish-election-good-news-for-centrist-politics/

Wikipedia: 2022 Danish general election https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_Danish_general_election

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