Lars Løkke’s Popularity Booming After Greenland Crisis

Ascar Ashleen

Freelance Writer

February 1, 2026
1:10 pm

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen has experienced a dramatic surge in popularity following his handling of the Greenland crisis with the United States. According to a new poll by Epinion for DR, Rasmussen jumped from being the most unpopular minister in December to sixth place in late January. His party, Moderaterne, also saw gains, rising to 4.7 percent support, potentially positioning them as kingmakers in this year’s parliamentary election.

From Bottom to Top in Weeks

For most of the past year, Lars Løkke Rasmussen ranked among Denmark’s least popular ministers. In fact, he sat at the very bottom of the scale in DR’s December poll. But the situation surrounding Greenland changed everything.

The foreign minister and leader of Moderaterne has made what can only be described as a quantum leap in public opinion. In a ministerial popularity poll conducted by Epinion for DR in late January, Rasmussen climbed to sixth place. Environment Minister Magnus Heunicke topped the rankings, closely followed by Economy Minister Stephanie Lose.

The Washington Effect

The shift in public perception appears closely tied to events two weeks ago in Washington D.C. Rasmussen and Greenland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Vivian Motzfeldt, attended a pivotal meeting with U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. After the meeting, Rasmussen was seen celebrating with a fist bump from Denmark’s U.S. ambassador, a moment that caught attention back home.

His handling of the Denmark-Greenland-U.S. crisis appears to have resonated with Danish voters. The minister’s performance during this sensitive diplomatic situation marked a turning point in how Danes view both him and his party.

Moderaterne Rises from the Danger Zone

The popularity boost extends beyond Rasmussen personally. After months of decline that brought Moderaterne dangerously close to the two percent electoral threshold, the party now stands at 4.7 percent. This translates to eight parliamentary seats.

While this remains far below their 9.3 percent result in the 2022 election, it represents significant recovery. Mohammad Rona, the party’s political spokesperson, welcomes the support but remains cautious about reading too much into a single poll.

Clear Messaging Pays Off

Rona attributes the uptick to multiple factors. Beyond the foreign minister’s performance in the United States, Moderaterne has begun delivering clearer policy messages. The party has focused particularly on issues like food VAT and tax reform, areas that resonate with voters concerned about everyday economics.

Nevertheless, Rona emphasizes that the only poll that truly matters will be the one on election night. Denmark must hold parliamentary elections by October 2026 at the latest.

The Kingmaker Position

If the election results mirror current polling, Moderaterne could find themselves in an extraordinarily powerful position. The math is straightforward and compelling.

The traditional red bloc, consisting of the Social Democrats, Socialist People’s Party, Red-Green Alliance, Alternative, and Social Liberals, currently stands at 87 seats. The traditional blue bloc, including Venstre, Denmark Democrats, Liberal Alliance, Danish People’s Party, and Conservatives, holds 80 seats.

A parliamentary majority requires 90 seats. With four North Atlantic mandates and Moderaterne’s eight projected seats, Løkke’s party could determine which side forms the next government. In fact, Moderaterne could single-handedly deliver a red bloc majority.

Politics Over Personalities

Despite this potentially pivotal role, Moderaterne refuses to commit to either bloc. Rona emphasizes that his party has always focused on policy rather than political alliances. This approach guided them in 2022, and they intend to maintain it.

The party spokesman frames their potential kingmaker status as beneficial but secondary to their actual policy goals. Whether the resulting government leans red or blue matters less to Moderaterne than whether it pursues good policies. For them, the content of governance outweighs the color of coalitions.

The Road Ahead

The timing of this popularity surge could prove crucial for Moderaterne. With elections looming sometime in 2026, momentum matters. The party has months to build on this foundation or watch it erode.

Interestingly, the Greenland situation that boosted Rasmussen’s standing continues to evolve. How he navigates ongoing diplomatic challenges could further shape public opinion. His party’s fate may well depend on his continued performance on the international stage.

At the same time, Moderaterne must demonstrate they offer more than competent crisis management. Voters will want to see substantive policy proposals that address domestic concerns. The party’s emphasis on food costs and tax reform suggests they understand this necessity.

Measuring Public Opinion

The Epinion poll surveyed 1,053 Danes aged 18 and older between January 21 and 28, 2026. The popularity measurement asks respondents whether they view each politician positively or negatively, then subtracts negative responses from positive ones. A separate voting intention poll included 2,046 respondents, of whom 1,711 indicated a party preference.

As with all political polling, these figures represent a snapshot rather than a prediction. Danish politics remains fluid, and much can change between now and election day. Previous elections have shown that late-breaking developments can dramatically shift voter sentiment.

For now, Lars Løkke Rasmussen enjoys a moment of relative triumph after a difficult year. Whether this translates into lasting political influence depends on events yet to unfold and decisions yet to be made.