King Frederik X of Denmark, given that Social Democratic leader and long-time pro-Ukrainian Prime Minister of Denmark Mette Frederiksen was unable to secure sufficient support to form a government, has entrusted this task to the current Minister of Defense and leader of the Liberal Party, Troels Lund Poulsen. This is stated in a press release from the Danish Royal Palace.
“Representatives of the Liberal Party, the Danish People’s Party, the Liberal Alliance, the Moderates, the Conservative People’s Party, the Danish Democrats, and the Civic Party—which together hold 87 seats—recommended that Liberal Party leader Troels Lund Poulsen lead the negotiations on forming a government,” reads the statement following the king’s meeting with representatives of political parties on the Royal Palace’s website, which took place on the evening of May 8.
Representatives of the Social Democratic Party, the Socialist People’s Party, the Red-Green Alliance, the Radical Left Party, and the Alternative, which together hold 84 seats, advised that incumbent Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen be tasked with leading the government formation talks once again.
Following this, the king received Frederiksen, who, in light of the parties’ statements, advised Frederik X to entrust Poulsen with leading such negotiations.
Accordingly, the king asked Poulsen to lead the negotiations on forming a government.
On May 8, Mette Frederiksen informed the king that, following the first round of negotiations, she had been unable to secure sufficient support from the parties to form a government. In the Danish parliamentary elections on March 24, Frederiksen’s Social Democrats won, but the centrist party of incumbent Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen secured the “golden share” with 14 seats.
Subsequently, Rasmussen, who serves as foreign minister in Frederiksen’s government, issued an ultimatum to her.
