2026 Danish general election
24 March 2026
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All 179 seats in the Folketing 175 from Denmark, 2 from Greenland and 2 from the Faroe Islands 90 seats needed for a majority | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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General elections are scheduled to be held in Denmark on 24 March 2026.[2][3] All 179 seats in the Folketing will be up for election, including 175 in Denmark proper, two in Greenland, and two in the Faroe Islands (the two other territories of the Danish Realm).[4]
Background
Frederiksen II Cabinet
The 2022 Danish general election, held on 31 October in the Faroe Islands and on 1 November in Denmark and Greenland, led to a narrow victory for the red bloc.[5] Following the election, a centrist government (Frederiksen II Cabinet) led by Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and consisting of the Social Democrats (A), Venstre (V), and the Moderates (M) was established.[6]
Candidates for Prime Minister
Frederiksen was initially the only official Prime Minister of Denmark candidate. The Red–Green Alliance (Ø) stated that if they are to support the Social Democrats, then it must be a red bloc coalition.[7] Green Left (F) won the most votes in the 2024 European parliament election in Denmark, and Pia Olsen Dyhr argued that the largest party in the red bloc should hold the Prime Minister post.[8] The Red–Green Alliance said they prefer a Green Left Prime Minister over a Social Democratic one,[7] although the Green Left stated they do not see themselves getting the position any time soon.[9]
As multiple polls saw the Liberal Alliance (I) being the largest in the blue bloc, political analysts predicted Alex Vanopslagh as a possible Prime Minister candidate.[10][11] Prime Minister Frederiksen and Danish People's Party (O) leader Morten Messerschmidt commented on their expectation that the former Prime Minister and Moderates leader Lars Løkke Rasmussen could try to regain the position.[12]
On 26 February 2026, Venstre leader and defence minister Troels Lund Poulsen announced that he was making himself available to lead a blue bloc government and declared his intention to become Prime Minister. In his announcement, Poulsen emphasized national security, economic responsibility, strengthening core welfare services, tightening immigration policy, improving Denmark's competitiveness, and maintaining defence capabilities in response to changing geopolitical conditions. He cited his experience across seven ministerial posts over two decades and stated that he would seek broad parliamentary cooperation if given the mandate to form a government.[13] Following his announcement, the Conservative People's Party (C) and the Danish People's Party endorsed Poulsen as the preferred Prime Ministerial candidate of the blue bloc.[14][15]
Campaign
Announcement
The election campaign began on 26 February 2026, when Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen announced that the election had been called.[2]
Slogans
The following shows the main slogans used by the parties with ballot access at the election.
| Party | Original slogan | English translation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Social Democrats | Vi har et ansvar for hinanden[16] | We have a responsibility to each other | |
| Social Liberals | Der er brug for en plan B[16] | There is a need for a plan B | |
| Conservatives | Borgerlige stemmer der arbejder[17] | Bourgeois votes that work | |
| Green Left | En sikker rød og grøn stemme[18] | A safe red and green vote | |
| Citizens' Party | Magten tilbage til borgerne[19] | Power back to the citizens | |
| Liberal Alliance | En frisk start[16] | A fresh start | |
| Moderates | Samler - når andre splitter[20] | Unites - when others divide | |
| Danish People's Party | Skal vi gøre noget ved det?[21] | Should we do something about it? | |
| Venstre | Danmark i sikre hænder[16] | Denmark in safe hands | |
| Denmark Democrats | Et Danmark i bedre balance[22] | A Denmark in better balance | |
| Red–Green Alliance | Et Danmark du har råd til[23] | A Denmark you can afford | |
| The Alternative | Vi vil give håbet på fremtiden tilbage[24] | We will give back the hope for the future | |
Debates
Opinion polls
See also
- 2026 Faroese general election, held two days afterwards in the Faroe Islands
Notes
- ^ Formally, the Red–Green Alliance have collective leadership.[1]
References
- ^ Hoffmann-Hansen, Henrik; Fabricius, Kitte (10 May 2019). "Overblik: Partierne i Danmark". Kristeligt Dagblad (in Danish). Archived from the original on 8 November 2022. Retrieved 20 May 2019.
- ^ a b "Mette Frederiksen udskriver folketingsvalg - TV 2". nyheder.tv2.dk (in Danish). 26 February 2026. Retrieved 26 February 2026.
- ^ "Mette Frederiksen announces Denmark will hold snap election on March 24". POLITICO. 26 February 2026. Archived from the original on 26 February 2026. Retrieved 27 February 2026.
- ^ "Elections in Denmark". The Danish Parliament. Archived from the original on 8 November 2022. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
- ^ "Denmark election: Centre-left bloc comes out on top". BBC News. 2 November 2022. Archived from the original on 24 November 2022. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
- ^ Bohr, Jakob Kjøgx (15 December 2022). "Her er SVM-regeringens ministre - TV 2". nyheder.tv2.dk (in Danish). Archived from the original on 16 December 2022. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
- ^ a b "Enhedslisten kræver rød regering for at pege på Mette Frederiksen". Berlingske (in Danish). 9 December 2025. Archived from the original on 10 December 2025. Retrieved 11 December 2025.
- ^ "Olsen Dyhr: - Største parti skal have statsministerposten". ekstrabladet.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 28 June 2025.
- ^ "Tak, men nej tak: SF vil ikke sidde for bordenden efter næste valg". DR (in Danish). 9 December 2025. Archived from the original on 9 December 2025. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
- ^ "Han tør ikke sige ordet endnu, men Vanopslagh ligner mere og mere en statsministerkandidat". tv2.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 28 June 2025.
- ^ "Cordsen: Vanopslagh gør klar til at gå efter statsministerposten - men ikke som statsministerkandidat". dr.dk (in Danish). Archived from the original on 28 June 2025. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
- ^ "Frederiksen og Messerschmidt griner af Løkkes statsministerambitioner". bt.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 28 June 2025.
- ^ Lund Poulsen, Troels. "Instagram post with Troels announcement". Instagram. Retrieved 27 February 2026.
- ^ "Morten Messerschmidt peger på Troels Lund Poulsen som statsministerkandidat". bt.dk.
- ^ "Konservative peger på statsministerkandidat". tv2.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 28 June 2025.
- ^ a b c d Bukdahl, Lars (11 March 2026). "Stem på julemanden". Weekendavisen (in Danish). Retrieved 15 March 2026.
- ^ "Venstre og De Konservative satser ikke på et borgerligt projekt. Hvorfor skal vælgerne så?". Kristeligt Dagblad (in Danish). Retrieved 15 March 2026.
- ^ "SF - en sikker rød og grøn stemme". Socialistisk Folkeparti (in Danish). Retrieved 15 March 2026.
- ^ "»Jeg er blevet fremstillet som sådan en, der ikke kan andet end at stå og råbe. Men måske skulle I lytte«". Politiken - Den levende avis (in Danish). 7 March 2026. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
- ^ "Samler når andre splitter". Moderaterne - Samler når andre splitter (in Danish). Retrieved 15 March 2026.
- ^ "Ny kampagne: Skal vi gøre noget ved det? - Dansk Folkeparti – Danskerne Først" (in Danish). Retrieved 15 March 2026.
- ^ "Danmarksdemokraterne". Archived from the original on 8 March 2026.
- ^ "Enhedslisten: Fra ' En rød regering' til 'Et Danmark du har råd til'. | Solidaritet". solidaritet.dk (in Danish). 9 March 2026. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
- ^ Sturis, Noah Reinert (2 March 2026). "Franciskas Alternativ". www.alternativet.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 15 March 2026.
- ^ "DR og TV 2 skyder valgkampen i gang med fælles partilederdebat i aften". omtv2.tv2.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 2 March 2026.
- ^ "Valgdebat: De østjyske spidskandidater". TV2 Østjylland.
- ^ a b c "TV 2 samler vælgerne i Odense, Horsens og Brande". omtv2.tv2.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 4 March 2026.
- ^ a b Rask, AfKristian (12 March 2026). "DR samler danskerne om valget og vores demokrati med to store debataftener". DR (in Danish). Retrieved 13 March 2026.