Denmark's caretaker PM forms new four-party government

Denmark's caretaker Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said on Monday that she has succeeded in forming a new four-party government following a 69-day coalition-building process, the longest in the country's history.

Speaking after meeting King Frederik X, Frederiksen said the new cabinet will include the Social Democrats, the Socialist People's Party, the Social Liberal Party and the Moderates.

She said the government's political program will be presented on Tuesday.

Frederiksen described the negotiations as "long and difficult," saying that although "a lot has been difficult," the process ultimately "had to succeed."

Denmark held parliamentary elections on March 24. While Frederiksen's Social Democrats remained the largest party, they suffered significant losses, leaving neither the left-leaning nor right-leaning blocs with a parliamentary majority.

Frederiksen initially attempted to form a broad coalition following the election but failed to secure agreement in her first round of talks. King Frederik X later asked her on May 23 to make a renewed attempt after center-right coalition negotiations led by acting Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen collapsed.