Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has called a surprise parliamentary election for March 24, less than a month away, in a bold attempt to leverage public anger over President Trump’s proposals regarding Greenland. Frederiksen, whose Social Democrats faced historic lows in the polls following municipal election losses three months ago, is betting that the controversy surrounding Greenland will help restore her political fortunes.
Frederiksen’s party had suffered setbacks unseen in more than a century, losing control of Copenhagen for the first time since 1903, while her personal approval ratings plunged, with nearly two-thirds of Danes disapproving of her leadership last December. Yet the prime minister appears to be hoping for a “Trump bounce,” echoing strategies seen in other countries where leaders capitalized on opposition to U.S. policies to galvanize domestic support.
The announcement caught rival parties off guard, as many right-wing factions have yet to unite behind a single challenger. Speaking to parliament, Frederiksen framed the election as a decisive moment for Denmark and Europe, stressing the importance of securing the future of Greenland. She also outlined domestic priorities, including the revival of the country’s wealth tax, targeting 22,000 Danes with assets above 25 million kroner, to fund reductions in primary school class sizes.
Despite a modest recovery in polls following the Greenland controversy, Frederiksen and the Social Democrats remain in net-negative approval territory, with projected vote shares between 21 and 23 percent—a historically poor performance. Several right-wing parties have signaled support for Troels Lund Poulsen, the prime minister’s deputy and defence minister, as a potential unified candidate. Recent surveys suggest a tight contest in a hypothetical run-off, with 42 percent favoring Poulsen and 40 percent backing Frederiksen.
