Danish politics is shifting fast as unlikely alliances start to take shape. Once fierce rivals, centrists and the left may now need each other to shape the next government.
A surprising turn in Danish politics
Danish politics has rarely been more unpredictable. Suddenly, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, leader of the Moderates, could be the left wing’s best and perhaps only path to political influence after the next election.
That might sound strange. For decades, Løkke was the main opponent of the Socialist People’s Party (SF) and the Red-Green Alliance (Enhedslisten). As prime minister leading a conservative government, he was the political face of policies the left fought hardest against. Yet now, things are changing.
SF’s leader Pia Olsen Dyhr and Enhedslisten’s Pelle Dragsted are both opening the door to possible cooperation. Even Løkke himself has expressed warm words toward Dyhr. Considering recent political shifts, these parties may soon need each other.
Polls show the left slipping
A year ago, the traditional red bloc—Social Democrats, Radikale, SF, Enhedslisten, and Alternativet—was on track for a majority. Today that is no longer the case. Polls show that several voters have moved toward the political center or to parties like the Danish People’s Party, leaving the balance of power uncertain.
The latest survey gives the red bloc only 81 seats, well short of a majority. Even if the Social Democrats “returned home” to the left, they would not have enough votes to govern without help from the Moderates.
This is where Løkke and his centrist party enter the picture. As a true middle party, the Moderates could be a realistic partner for both sides if neither traditional bloc can secure a majority.
Dragsted recently noted that cooperation between the Moderates and left-wing parties would be difficult but worth testing. Dyhr has already spoken for months about the possibility of a joint government, and Alternativet’s leader has also said the idea is worth exploring.
Friction on the right
To understand why the left is reaching toward the Moderates, it helps to look at the deep divisions on the right. Relations between Løkke and other conservative leaders have soured badly. Danish People’s Party leader Morten Messerschmidt has ruled out any alliance involving Løkke.
Former ally Inger Støjberg, now leading the Denmark Democrats, regularly attacks him personally. Old friendships have turned into open hostility. Politically, the divide is also widening. A clear example is the debate over whether Denmark should leave international legal conventions to make deportations easier. The conservative parties support withdrawal, but Løkke strongly opposes it.
As a result, the gap between the Moderates and the rest of the blue bloc looks almost impossible to close.
Why the Moderates might look left
Because of the growing tension on the right, some observers believe the Moderates may find more common ground with parties to the left. Cooperation with SF and even Enhedslisten could help them maintain political influence if they once again hold the deciding votes after the next election.
That does not mean such a partnership would come easily. On economic policies, Løkke stands far from Dyhr, not to mention Dragsted. The Moderates favor lower corporate taxes, while the left wants higher ones to fund social welfare.
Still, the mere fact that these parties are openly discussing possible collaboration says a lot about how chaotic the landscape has become. The political system led by a modern constitutional monarchy now faces alliances that cross traditional lines.
A total shake-up in progress
For now, no one can predict what kind of government Denmark will have after the next election. What’s clear is that the days of stable political blocs are over. On both the left and the right, parties are testing new forms of cooperation that would have been unthinkable only a few years ago.
Perhaps surprisingly, it might be Lars Løkke Rasmussen, the former conservative prime minister, who ends up holding the key to power for a Social Democratic–led coalition. If that happens, his transformation from opponent to potential ally would mark one of the most dramatic political turnarounds in the country’s recent history.
Sources and References
The Danish Dream: What Type of Government Does Denmark Have? Discover the Secrets of Modern Monarchy
The Danish Dream: Best Tax Advisor in Denmark for Foreigners
TV2: Er Løkke pludselig blevet venstrefløjens bedste chance
