Despite losing votes nationwide, Denmark’s Liberal Party (Venstre) has managed to capture more mayoral positions than any other party, signaling a surprising comeback in local politics.
Venstre Loses Votes but Wins Power
Even though Venstre suffered a national drop in support, the party ended up taking control of dozens of Danish municipalities after the recent local elections. Nationwide, Venstre secured 17.9 percent of the vote, a decline of 3.3 percentage points compared with the 2021 elections.
However, when it comes to mayoral chains, the party turned a setback into a success. Out of Denmark’s 98 municipalities, 89 have now named their new mayors, and Venstre claimed 39 of them. At the previous election, they held 34. In other words, Venstre has regained the title as the party with the most mayors, overtaking the Social Democrats, who previously led with 44 mayors.
This outcome highlights how strategic coalitions and local alliances can shift the political landscape even when a party’s overall vote share drops. It also echoes trends seen in other election cycles, such as when many voters were still undecided until the final days of the campaign.
A Confidence Boost for the Liberal Party
Political experts see the results as a moral victory for Venstre. The party had braced itself for a much tougher outcome, especially with new competition from Danmarksdemokraterne and a growing Liberal Alliance. Yet, despite the challenges, Venstre managed not only to hold ground but also to win mayoral posts in key cities like Fredericia, Frederikssund, Køge, and Kolding.
Because of that, the party enters the next political cycle with renewed belief in its local influence. The success also gives momentum to the leadership of Troels Lund Poulsen, who took over as party chairman two years ago.
At the same time, these results suggest a more complex voter landscape in Denmark. While national trends show fragmentation among the right-of-center parties, local cooperation has helped Venstre remain Denmark’s most powerful municipal force.
Votes Shift Within the Blue Bloc
Voting data shows that Venstre’s lost support primarily moved to its political allies rather than to the center-left. Many of its former voters chose the Liberal Alliance. Still, that shift did not weaken the broader conservative bloc. In many municipalities, alliances among right-leaning parties were strong enough to unseat Social Democratic mayors and secure new majorities.
Danmarksdemokraterne, contesting its first local election, earned 4.6 percent of the votes and often supported a Venstre candidate for mayor. This cooperation between newer and older center-right parties played a decisive role in shaping outcomes across Denmark.
In fact, political scientists point out that mayoral deals often come down to coalition-building after the votes are counted rather than direct national strength. For Venstre, such alliances have proven invaluable.
Pride in a Difficult Period
Despite the drop in overall votes, Venstre’s leadership described the outcome as deeply satisfying. The party faced strong new rivals like Danmarksdemokraterne and the Moderates, both of which have drawn attention since 2021. Yet Venstre managed to remain the largest party on the right and Denmark’s single biggest force in local and regional government.
From what I can tell, this election has reinforced the party’s ability to adapt and negotiate effectively in Denmark’s fragmented political system. Even though the national numbers might suggest decline, the local picture tells a different story: Venstre continues to command influence where it matters most, in the hands of mayors across the country.
In the end, the results could mark the start of a slow rebuilding phase for Venstre. While its competition grows on multiple fronts, the ability to hold power locally keeps the party relevant, visible, and politically strong.
Sources and References
The Danish Dream: Danish Local Elections See Half of Voters Still Undecided
DR: Venstre taber stemmer, men vinder borgmesterposter
