Denmark Election: Social Democrats likely to lead coalition government

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Europe

02:01

Denmark's center-left Social Democrats look set to lead a coalition government after winning the most seats in Wednesday's election. The far-right People's Party suffered heavy losses with support down by more than half. CGTN's Guy Henderson reports from Copenhagen.

Bucking a European trend of center-left demise. Denmark's Social Democrats have come out on top in Wednesday's election.

METTE FREDERIKSEN LEADER, SOCIAL DEMOCRATS "The election has been about welfare, and the answer from the Danish people has been unequivocal: after tonight we put welfare first again."

The incumbent Liberals managed second place: increasing their vote share but still conceding defeat. It means, though, that a centrist party looks likely to become the official opposition again.

GUY HENDERSON COPENHAGEN "The first exit polls suggest tonight's big losers could be the far right People's Party. Who've scored success in pushing their anti-immigration agenda further and further into Denmark's political mainstream? Ironically, that may have ended up becoming their undoing."

Because Mette Frederiksen has done what many other center-left leaders in Europe have so far been unwilling to do: adopt hard-line immigration policies themselves. That's what gives this vote significance beyond Denmark's borders.

Q: How much hope can center left parties in Europe take from that?

PERNILLE ROSENKRANTZ SOCIAL DEMOCRATS "I think they can take hope from that. But I also think they should re-consider their political focus."

Guy: Do you mean on immigration?

"I'm not only talking about immigration. I'm talking about the sense of security in society."

Frederiksen's next task will be to form a new government. Without a straight majority, it's not victory yet. GH, CGTN, Copenhagen.