SF to Prioritise Great Prayer Day After Election

Femi A.

Writer

February 11, 2026
7:58 am

Denmark’s Socialist People’s Party has announced that restoring the abolished Great Prayer Day public holiday will be its first priority if a left-wing government takes power after the next election. Party leader Pia Olsen Dyhr says the 2024 abolition broke trust with Danish workers who expect more free time, not less.

SF Takes Strong Stance on Holiday Restoration

The Socialist People’s Party has made restoring Great Prayer Day a central demand for any future coalition negotiations. Party leader Pia Olsen Dyhr told TV 2 that bringing back the public holiday would be the very first action a left-wing government should take after the upcoming election. She framed the issue as a matter of fundamental trust between government and citizens.

Priority Issue for Red Coalition

Pia Olsen Dyhr described the abolition as something taken like a thief in the night. She emphasized that Danes should be able to count on preserving what they have fought for throughout their working lives, specifically more leisure time. The party leader insisted this must be guaranteed under a left-wing government.

The SF leader also highlighted the importance of work life balance in Denmark. She argued that restoring the holiday would help Danish families achieve better balance between their professional and personal lives. For SF, this represents a core value worth fighting for in government negotiations.

Not an Ultimatum but a Clear Demand

Despite the strong language, Pia Olsen Dyhr clarified that SF would not issue an ultimatum over the holiday restoration. She stated that making ultimative demands during negotiations is not her approach. However, she made clear the issue ranks extremely high on her party’s priority list.

When pressed on whether Mette Frederiksen could become prime minister without restoring the holiday, Olsen Dyhr maintained her position. She said SF would fight hard for restoration if they gain enough seats to help form a red government. If SF secured 90 parliamentary seats, she noted, the party would definitely restore Great Prayer Day.

Background of the Controversial Abolition

The current government eliminated Great Prayer Day as a public holiday in a decision that generated immediate and sustained criticism. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen announced the measure in December 2022 as part of the newly formed SVM coalition government’s founding agreement. The stated justification centered on financing increased defense spending.

Government’s Defense Spending Rationale

Mette Frederiksen explained at the time that Denmark needed to finance higher defense expenditures. She acknowledged the unpopularity of the decision but said the government made it with open eyes and a straight back. The measure took effect in January 2024, converting the traditional spring holiday into a regular working day.

The Ministry of Employment estimated the abolition would generate approximately three billion kroner for the state treasury. However, this figure became heavily disputed in subsequent debates. Critics questioned whether the actual economic benefit would reach the projected amount.

Immediate and Sustained Public Backlash

The decision sparked fierce opposition from multiple quarters almost immediately. All opposition parties except the Social Liberals opposed the abolition. Labor unions joined the criticism, arguing the measure represented a fundamental breach of worker protections.

High-profile Social Democratic members broke with the party over the issue. In December of last year, Arne Juhl, the namesake of the celebrated Arne pension scheme, said he was considering abandoning Socialdemokratiet. The abolition of Great Prayer Day ranked among his key reasons, and he indicated SF might receive his vote instead.

SF’s Long Opposition to the Change

The Socialist People’s Party has opposed abolishing Great Prayer Day since the government first proposed it. Pia Olsen Dyhr has consistently criticized the decision throughout the past two years. Her latest announcement represents an escalation rather than a new position.

Consistent Criticism from the Start

During her May Day speech last year, the SF leader called the abolition possibly the craziest of all the strange things the current government has done. SF voted against the measure when it came before Parliament in early 2023. The party worked alongside labor unions to oppose what they characterized as theft from Danish workers.

Pia Olsen Dyhr rejected suggestions that her current demand represents election season posturing. She insisted SF has fought against the abolition throughout the entire process. The party now simply wants to end what it views as an injustice against working Danes.

Not Coordinated with Social Democrats

The SF leader stated that her announcement was not coordinated in advance with Socialdemokratiet. She expressed hope that the Social Democrats would reconsider their position. However, she provided no indication that private discussions had already secured agreement on the issue.

Olsen Dyhr also denied that the demand had been cleared beforehand to give SF an easy political win. She maintained that the party acts independently on this issue. Whether the Social Democrats would accept restoration as part of a coalition agreement remains uncertain.

Financing Questions Remain Unresolved

SF has not yet calculated how it would finance restoring the public holiday. This represents a potential vulnerability in the party’s position, as the government justified abolition partly on fiscal grounds. Finding three billion kroner in alternative funding would require difficult choices.

No Specific Funding Plan Yet

Pia Olsen Dyhr acknowledged that SF has not performed detailed financial calculations for restoration. She noted first that the government’s original three billion kroner estimate faced serious questions. Subsequent discussions raised doubts about whether the abolition actually generated the projected revenue.

The SF leader pointed to substantial budget surpluses discovered in subsequent years. She argued that the Finance Ministry has found billions upon billions when opening its drawers. This demonstrates that fiscal space exists to prioritize what she considers the proper balance between work and family life.

Potential Sources Under Consideration

When pressed on where the money might come from, Pia Olsen Dyhr suggested several possibilities. She emphasized that SF refuses to rule out any options in advance. The party remains willing to find whatever funding proves necessary for restoration.

One option involves rolling back tax cuts the current government provided to the wealthiest Danes. Olsen Dyhr criticized repeated tax reductions that benefited high earners. She indicated SF would consider reversing some of these measures to fund holiday restoration and other priorities.