A new center-left government under the leadership of 48-year-old Mette Frederisken is in place again, and according to what was officially announced as part of its government program, the new scheme intends to resist American pressure on its future, prioritize tackling accuracy and proceed to strengthen the welfare state.
The announcements came after more than two months of negotiations, as the prime minister begins her third consecutive government, a development that could make her Denmark’s longest-serving prime minister since World War II.
At the top of the new administration’s political agenda are continuing diplomatic consultations over Greenland, which US President Donald Trump has threatened to annex, as well as a rapid build-up of the Danish armed forces at a time when Europe’s security environment is strained by Russia’s war in Ukraine.
“The government will resolutely defend the sovereignty of the Kingdom, its territorial integrity and the right of its people to self-determination,” the government text says.
Copenhagen emphasizes that the future of the Kingdom of Denmark — which consists of Greenland, the Faroe Islands and metropolitan Denmark — is solely a matter for these three territories and their citizens. At the same time, the new government reaffirms its unwavering support for Ukraine.
Shortly before the presentation of the government’s program, Frederiksen met with Greenland’s two MPs in the Danish parliament, who expressed their support for the new government.
Broad center-left alliance
In addition to Frederiksen’s Social Democrats, the new government will include the Social Liberals, the Greens of the Left and the centrist Moderate party.
The government’s parliamentary majority will be based mainly on the support of the left-wing Red-Green Front alliance, while it will be able to seek votes from other political formations as well.
Measures for the accuracy and strengthening of the social state
To secure the support of the parties that will support it in parliament, the new government agreed to a series of social interventions. These include fully free dental care for all Danes within the next decade, free use of public transport for under-22s and the abolition of VAT on fruit and vegetables.
The measures are aimed at tackling the cost-of-living crisis, which dominated the election campaign and contributed to the Social Democrats’ worst election result in more than a century.
However, the tax on the great wealth is absent from the final government program, a proposal that Frederiksen herself had supported during the election campaign.
Hard line on immigration
In a press conference given by Frederiksen, she made it clear that her new government will continue the immigration policy of her previous term.
As he said, the government will seek to deport more foreigners who have been convicted of criminal acts, while continuing efforts to create reception and deportation centers for immigrants outside European territory.
Denmark’s immigration policy is among the strictest in Europe. Although it has received strong criticism from human rights organizations, it is being watched with particular interest by several European governments that are looking for stricter solutions to manage migration flows.
