Voters are heading to the polls across Denmark in a general election to renew its 179-seat parliament at the end of its four-year term. Unlike other European countries, populists do not seem to be on the rise, and the centre-left Danish Social Democrats may come back to power after four years in opposition. The five-party so-called red bloc that includes the Social Democrats faces a centre-right blue bloc that is losing steam.
The blue block is splintered into eight parties, of which three are newcomers, including two openly anti-Muslim groups.
The Social Democrats, Denmark’s largest party, have warned against calling the election a done deal, but party official Nicolai Wammen said they had “a positive feeling about this election.”
Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen’s three-party coalition within the blue bloc has not been campaigning together, and none wants to rely on support from the anti-immigration newcomers, the Hardliner Course and New Right.
The populist Danish People’s Party, which in 2015 took 21 percent of the vote to become the second-largest party in the country, has seen its support shrinking among voters.
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The blue block is splintered into eight parties, of which three are newcomers, including two openly anti-Muslim groups.
The Social Democrats, Denmark’s largest party, have warned against calling the election a done deal, but party official Nicolai Wammen said they had “a positive feeling about this election.”
Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen’s three-party coalition within the blue bloc has not been campaigning together, and none wants to rely on support from the anti-immigration newcomers, the Hardliner Course and New Right.
The populist Danish People’s Party, which in 2015 took 21 percent of the vote to become the second-largest party in the country, has seen its support shrinking among voters.
The DPP had been supporting the minority government and Ii the polls ring true they could see their support cut in half, while polls have the red bloc at nearly 53 percent of the votes.
The Social Democrats want to form a one-party government spearheaded by party leader, Mette Frederiksen who could become the country’s youngest ever prime minister.
Ms Fredreiksen, 41, has been a member of the Folketing, the parliament of Denmark, since 2001.
The Social Democrat party has said it will seek support on the right when it comes to immigration issues and on the left for matters like social welfare.
Many Danish People’s Party voters have drifted to the Social Democrats, mainly because of a stricter position on immigration policy.
It is a stance they already had in the 1980s and 1990s, but one which was later played down due to a coalition with left-wing parties.
They have also voted for several of the centre-right government’s laws to tighten immigration.
Social Democrat spokesman Mr Wammen said: “There is a limit as to how many people we can take in and preserve (Denmark’s) welfare state.”
Kenneth Kristensen Berth, the Danish People’s Party EU spokesperson, told media last week the party would not change course, despite facing the most difficult period in its history.
He said: “We are where we are whether it’s sunshine and smooth weather or whether we are in a hurricane.
“We are not a party that changes our viewpoint due to election winds.”