Danish center-left opposition wins election on welfare pledges

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Europe

01:11

Denmark appeared set to become the third Nordic country in a year to form a leftist government as voters in Wednesday's parliamentary election rebelled against austerity measures and dealt a blow to right-wing nationalists.

Danes looked to oust Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen in the election, paving the way for an attempt by Social Democratic leader Mette Frederiksen, 41, to become Denmark's youngest-ever prime minister as her party led in seats together with the rest of the left-wing opposition.

Following two decades of liberal economic reforms in Denmark, the vote marked a comeback for a Social Democratic Party, which was the main architect behind the cradle-to-grave welfare state when it was the traditional party of power throughout the 20th century.

Mette Frederiksen, leader of Denmark's opposition Social Democrats, gives flowers to voters during her election campaign in her hometown Aalborg, Denmark, June 5, 2019. /Reuters Photo

The leftist opposition bloc got 96 seats against 79 for the ruling Liberal Party and others on the right, the final vote count showed.

The nationalist Danish People's Party, which has supported Rasmussen's minority government, appeared to have lost its edge with most mainstream parties backing a tougher stance on immigration. Support for the party plummeted to 8.7 percent from 21.1 percent in the 2015 election.

Rasmussen, who has been premier since 2015 and also served from 2009 to 2011, said late on Wednesday that he would announce his government's resignation to Queen Margrethe on Thursday.

Danish Prime Minister and head of the Liberal Party Lars Loekke Rasmussen leaves a polling station during the Danish general election in Copenhagen, Denmark, June 5, 2019. /Reuters Photo

Frederiksen's promise to increase welfare spending after years of austerity along with her tougher stance on immigration went down well with voters in opinion polls ahead of the vote.

"This has been a welfare election, and voters' verdict has been completely clear. From now on, we make welfare the top priority in Denmark," Frederiksen said in a speech after the final election result.

She said on Wednesday that she will attempt forming a minority one-party government, but may find it difficult to combine her own party's tougher immigration policies with the softer stance of most parties on the left.

Mette Frederiksen speaks after election results came out at Christiansborg Castle in Copenhagen, June 5, 2019. /VCG Photo

The Social Democrats have backed tougher legislation, including a ban on wearing the body-covering Islamic burqa and niqab face veil in public, as well as a "jewelry bill" that allows police to seize refugees' valuables to help pay their costs.

The parties Frederiksen will rely on include the Socialist People's Party and the Social-Liberal Party, the latter which used to be headed by European Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager. Both parties have campaigned for a more gentle immigration policy and greater efforts to combat climate change, echoing a surge in support for Europe's Greens at European Union elections last month, surfing a global wave of climate activism.

(Cover: Mette Frederiksen, leader of Denmark's opposition Social Democrats, arrives to deliver a speech on the Danish Day of the Constitution, which coincides with the Danish general elections, in Ollerup, Denmark, June 5, 2019. /Reuters Photo)

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Source(s): Reuters