Denmark’s Most Hated Politicians Revealed in Poll

Sandra Oparaocha

Writer

December 30, 2025
12:30 pm

Denmark’s latest opinion poll shows Education Minister Mattias Tesfaye as the government’s most popular minister, while Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen struggle with low ratings.

Mattias Tesfaye Tops the Popularity Rankings

A new survey by Epinion for DR and Altinget reveals that Education Minister Mattias Tesfaye from the Social Democrats is now the most popular member of the Danish government. The poll asked voters whether they had a positive or negative view of each minister, subtracting negatives from positives to determine an overall popularity score.

Tesfaye received positive ratings from 38 percent of respondents and negative ratings from 25 percent, giving him a net score of 13 percent. This marks a return to the top spot for Tesfaye, who has been there before. His renewed popularity could offer some comfort to the Social Democrats, as the party is facing one of its worst opinion poll results in years, similar to the situation described in Mette Frederiksen’s recent internal challenges.

Other Ministers Performing Well

Following Tesfaye, Finance Minister Nicolai Wammen ranked second in the popularity list. Environmental Minister Magnus Heunicke and Economics Minister Stephanie Lose share third place. Business Minister Morten Bødskov and Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen also made it into the positive zone, each with modest approval ratings.

In total, only five ministers were viewed more positively than negatively. Two ministers had neutral standings, while the rest of the cabinet faced a net negative perception among voters.

Løkke Rasmussen at the Bottom

Foreign Minister and leader of the Moderates, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, landed at the very bottom of the rankings. Only 24 percent of voters see him positively, while 57 percent have an unfavorable view, leaving him with a net score of -33 percent.

The poor personal rating matches the sharp decline of his party. The Moderates are currently polling at only 1.5 percent and risk falling below Denmark’s electoral threshold, a critical level that could exclude them from Parliament.

Mette Frederiksen’s Struggles Continue

Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen fares little better. She is now the second least popular minister in the government with a net rating of -20 percent. Within just nine months, Frederiksen’s popularity has dropped drastically. Back in March, her score was at a healthy 8 percent, but since then, it has taken a sharp downturn.

Her approval has fluctuated widely in recent years, with similar lows showing up in May 2024. The current decline reflects growing dissatisfaction among Danish voters toward the government’s performance and overall direction.

Given her pivotal role, a sustained dip in approval could create new challenges for her leadership both within the Social Democratic Party and at the national level. Analysts suggest this could have ripple effects across Denmark’s political landscape, as seen during previous setbacks for the prime minister.

Low Confidence in the Cabinet Overall

The survey also shows that overall voter confidence in the government is low. Only a handful of ministers scored in positive territory, a clear contrast to previous years when the leading ministers could achieve approval ratings above 20 percent.

For most cabinet members, dissatisfaction dominates public perception. The findings highlight a broader frustration with the coalition’s policies and its handling of key national issues.

While some ministers maintain steady approval thanks to visibility and targeted policy action, the majority continue to lose ground among the Danish public. The data underlines a political climate marked by skepticism, fatigue, and shifting loyalties among voters.