2026 Danish general election
No later than 31 October 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 no later than 31 October 2026, according to § 32 of the constitution, which defines an election cycle as four years. All 179 seats in the Folketing will be up for election, 175 in Denmark proper, two in Greenland and two in the Faroe Islands (the two other territories of the Danish Realm).[2]
Background
The previous general elections were held on 31 October 2022 in the Faroe Islands and on 1 November in Denmark and Greenland. The elections led to a narrow victory for the red bloc.[3] Following the elections, a centrist government led by Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and consisting of the Social Democrats (A), Venstre (V) and the Moderates (M) was established.[4]
Official candidates for Prime Minister
Social Democrats
| Party | Candidate | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Social Democrats | Mette Frederiksen[5] | |
Red–Green has stated that if they are to support the Social Democrats, then it must be a red bloc coalition. This excludes the government's two primary coalition partners.[6]
Possible candidates for Prime Minister
Green Left
| Party | Candidate | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| F | Green Left | Pia Olsen Dyhr | |
Green Left won the most votes in the 2024 European parliament election, and Olsen Dyhr has argued that the largest party in the red bloc should hold the Prime Minister post. [7]
Red-Green have said they prefer a Green Left Prime Minister over a Social Democratic one[6], although Green Left have stated they do not see themselves getting the position any time soon.[8]
Liberal Alliance
| Party | Candidate | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| I | Liberal Alliance | Alex Vanopslagh | |
Multiple polls have shown the party being the largest in the blue bloc, leading to political analysts predicting a possible attempt. [9][10]
Moderates
| Party | Candidate | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| M | Moderates | Lars Løkke Rasmussen | |
Current prime minister Mette Frederiksen, and leader of the Danish People's party, Morten Messerschmidt, both commented on their expectation that the former Prime Minister of Denmark could try to regain the position.[11]
Venstre
| Party | Candidate | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| V | Venstre | Troels Lund Poulsen | |
The Conservatives have endorsed Troels Lund Poulsen as the leader of a blue bloc government. [12]
Opinion polls
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). Retrieved 20 May 2019.
- ^ "Elections in Denmark". The Danish Parliament. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
- ^ "Denmark election: Centre-left bloc comes out on top". BBC News. 2 November 2022. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
- ^ Bohr, Jakob Kjøgx (15 December 2022). "Her er SVM-regeringens ministre - TV 2". nyheder.tv2.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 15 December 2022.
- ^ "Mette Frederiksen tager mindst en valgperiode mere". avisendanmark.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 28 June 2025.
- ^ a b "Enhedslisten kræver rød regering for at pege på Mette Frederiksen". Berlingske (in Danish). 9 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. 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). Retrieved 28 June 2025.
- ^ "Frederiksen og Messerschmidt griner af Løkkes statsministerambitioner". bt.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 28 June 2025.
- ^ "Konservative peger på statsministerkandidat". tv2.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 28 June 2025.