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Denmark’s prime minister has called an early election to take advantage of a “Greenland bounce” after Donald Trump’s threats to invade the Arctic territory.
Mette Frederiksen, who has been in office since 2019, is required by Danish law to call an election by 31 October. Setting a date with eight months to go appears to be an attempt to ride improved poll ratings after disastrous local elections in November that saw her Social Democrats lose control of Copenhagen for the first time in a century.
Polls last month showed that her party appeared to be gaining momentum, attributed in part to its handling of the crisis over Greenland. Frederiksen has also pledged a wealth tax to fund schools.
After hinting at an announcement on social media, she entered the Danish parliament on Thursday, beaming and sharing hugs with colleagues, including the Greenlandic politician Aaja Chemnitz, before passing a note to the speaker requesting the floor for a special statement.
“Winter has finally let go and the days are getting longer and brighter. It will soon be spring – and the Danes will soon be going to the polls,” she said, announcing the 24 March vote.
Speaking before a packed chamber, Frederiksen said it would be a “decisive” election for Denmark and the future of Europe, pledging to rearm and “stand on our own feet”.
“Dear Danes, today I have asked his majesty the king to call an election for the Folketing,” she said. “Whether I will continue to be your prime minister depends on how strong a mandate you give the Social Democrats.”
Frederiksen’s profile on the international stage has risen considerably over the past two months in which she has rallied European leaders in the face of what could have been an existential threat to the Nato alliance over Greenland.
Other centre-left and liberal politicians have gained a boost in opposing Trump, including the Canadian prime minister, Mark Carney, who has faced down the US president’s threats to annex its northern neighbour.
Frederiksen said Denmark would have to redefine its relationship with the US, which had been seen as its closest ally.
Denmark and Greenland, a former colony that is now largely autonomous but has its foreign and security policy run from Copenhagen, are talking to the US about Arctic security.
Frederiksen said: “This will be a decisive election, because it will be in the next four years that we as Danes and as Europeans will really have to stand on our own feet. We need to define our relationship with the United States, and we must rearm to ensure peace on our continent.
“We must stick together in Europe, and we must secure the future of the Danish commonwealth.”
The commonwealth includes the Faroe Islands.
Frederiksen’s stance on Greenland appears to have worked in her favour domestically. A poll by Megafon for TV2 last month found that support for the Social Democrats had risen to 22.7% of the vote and a projected 41 seats, up from 32 seats in early December.
In November, before Trump’s renewed threats on Greenland, Frederiksen’s party suffered widespread defeats across the country.
The latest polling would put the red bloc – including Frederiksen’s Social Democrats and smaller leftwing parties – on 87 seats, more than the 71 of the current government.
Peter Thisted Dinesen, a politics professor at the University of Copenhagen, said US pressure had had a “rallying” effect on Frederiksen.
“The Greenland crisis has arguably aided her by conveying her ability to steer the country through an international crisis,” he added. “The Social Democrats are faring better in the polls than after the local elections and have been presenting a significant number of new initiatives targeting different voter groups.”
Dinesen said the initiatives included Fødevarechecken, a food support scheme. “The polls indicate it might have had some effect,” he said, noting that the rightwing nationalist Danish People’s party had dropped in the polls.
Announcing plans for a wealth tax to generate 6bn kroner (£700m) for primary schools, Frederiksen told parliament: “A wealth tax should take the edge off inequality and create a better balance in our country.”
She also proposed to abolish property tax for homes worth less than 1m kroner.
In her speech, Frederiksen thanked the foreign minister, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, who is leader of the Moderates, and the defence minister, Troels Lund Poulsen, leader of the Liberals, for their work in her coalition, joking: “When an elephant and a camel can become friends, so can political opponents.”
But she said she would be keeping her options open for potential coalition partners after the election: “Could it be a choice over the political middle again? Yes.”
