Even though Denmark’s Danish People’s Party (DF) and the ruling Social Democrats often clash fiercely in national politics, DF’s local branches have been allowed to back Social Democratic mayors where it makes sense. The move contrasts sharply with the stance of Inger Støjberg’s Denmark Democrats, who have ruled out any deals supporting the left.
National Rivals, Local Flexibility
In Copenhagen, the Danish People’s Party and the Social Democrats have been trading blows almost daily. The battles play out mainly on social media, where the Social Democrats accuse DF leader Morten Messerschmidt of copying American tactics and favoring tax cuts that would hurt welfare and public services. Messerschmidt has fired back, calling Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen the weakest leader Denmark has ever had and accusing her party of soft immigration policies.
Despite this fierce exchange, DF’s leadership has made it clear that local party members across Denmark’s 98 municipalities can decide for themselves whether to support Social Democratic mayors after the upcoming local and regional elections.
According to DF’s parliamentary leader Peter Kofod, the party trusts its local representatives to make their own assessments. He emphasized that DF remains part of the center-right “blue bloc,” but he recognized that each municipality faces unique political conditions.
Past Alliances with Social Democrats
It is not the first time DF members have helped Social Democrats secure mayoralties. At the last local election in 2021, DF council members tipped the balance in several key cities.
In Kerteminde, DF candidate Terje Pedersen delivered the crucial vote that kept Social Democrat Kasper Ejsing Olesen in office as mayor. DF gained the deputy mayor’s post in return. Pedersen later described their cooperation as excellent and noted that local conditions sometimes matter more than strict party lines.
However, this year’s DF candidate in Kerteminde, Morten Haubro, has already said he will not repeat that arrangement. He insists on supporting a conservative mayor if possible, clarifying that he is not interested in trading positions for influence.
Roskilde and Guldborgsund Case Studies
In Roskilde, DF’s Merete Dea Larsen made a similar move in 2021 by supporting Social Democrat Tomas Breddam as mayor. She argued that this choice prevented the centrist Radikale Venstre from gaining kingmaker power, which she saw as more contradictory to DF’s values than cooperating with the Social Democrats.
Looking ahead to the new election, Larsen says she hopes for a blue mayor but appreciates that her party allows local flexibility. She believes that each situation on election night must be assessed before drawing conclusions about what is right or wrong for local voters.
Another example comes from Guldborgsund, where DF’s René Christensen helped Social Democrat Simon Hansen win the mayor’s seat. DF received six council seats and became the largest party on the right but still chose to cooperate with Hansen. Christensen later left DF to join the centrist Moderates, led by former Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen.
As seen in these examples, local realities sometimes push DF toward pragmatic partnerships, even when these go against the national blue-red divide.
Different Rules in the Denmark Democrats
While DF grants autonomy to its local branches, Inger Støjberg’s Denmark Democrats have made their position clear: supporting a Social Democratic mayor is not acceptable under any circumstances when a blue majority exists.
Støjberg, who founded the party after splitting from the Liberal Party, has stated that no incentives or promises could make her members back a Social Democrat for mayor. If a Denmark Democrat were to vote against this principle, it would raise questions about their membership in the party.
However, Støjberg admitted that when local councils already have a red majority, her candidates might cooperate pragmatically to limit policies they disagree with. Her party will be participating in local government elections for the first time this year.
Balancing Principles and Power
The contrast between DF and the Denmark Democrats highlights an ongoing tension inside Denmark’s political right: whether to hold firm ideological lines or adapt to local conditions for influence.
DF seems to lean on local knowledge, giving municipal politicians the chance to negotiate the best possible outcomes on welfare, elder care, and local budgets. By comparison, Støjberg’s party is setting a national standard where cooperation with the Social Democrats is seen as a betrayal of the blue bloc’s identity.
In practice, this difference could shape how councils are configured after the elections. In smaller or politically mixed municipalities, DF’s open policy might secure positions of influence even if the party cannot claim the mayor’s seat. Meanwhile, the Denmark Democrats could struggle to exert the same local sway due to their stricter guidelines.
End of the Campaign, Start of the Calculations
As voters prepare for the critical election days ahead, both parties face tests of consistency and strategy. Messerschmidt’s national rhetoric draws hard lines, yet DF’s local flexibility shows that winning influence sometimes means compromise. Støjberg’s approach, by contrast, emphasizes loyalty to principles even if it costs seats or influence in city halls.
In the end, local cooperation agreements will reveal how far Danish parties are willing to bend to maintain control or simply to have a hand in how towns and regions are run. What seems clear is that Danish local politics, especially among conservatives, will continue to mix pragmatism with principle.
Sources and References
DR: While Messerschmidt Attacks Mette Frederiksen, Local DF Members Can Back Social Democrat Mayors
DR Kommunalvalg 2025
DR Local Election Live Blog
DR Local Election Results
