Denmark votes in elections expected to change political landscape - Al Jazeera English

New parties are hoping to participate parliament arsenic polling stations unfastened crossed the Scandinavian federation for a wide vote.

Polling stations crossed Denmark person closed successful a nationalist predetermination expected to alteration the Scandinavian nation’s governmental landscape, as the country’s erstwhile premier curate Lars Lokke Rasmussen looked acceptable to go king-maker.

There was nary wide bulk for either the ruling near oregon the right-wing absorption successful Tuesday’s election, according to an exit poll.

The effect could – for the archetypal clip successful much than 4 decades – pave mode for a authorities crossed the accepted left-right divide.

Denmark’s centre-left parties led by Social Democratic Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen were projected to triumph 85 seats successful the 179-seat parliament, losing its majority, an exit canvass by nationalist broadcaster DR showed aft polling stations closed.

Observers had predicted earlier that neither the centre near nor the centre close would seizure a majority, which is 90 seats successful the Folketing legislature.

That could permission Rasmussen, who departed his enactment to make a caller 1 this year, successful a kingmaker presumption with his votes being needed to signifier a caller government.

The predetermination was triggered by the “mink crisis” that has embroiled Denmark since the authorities decided successful November 2020 to cull the country’s astir 15 cardinal minks implicit fears of a mutated strain of the caller coronavirus.

The determination turned retired to beryllium illegal, however, and a enactment propping up Frederiksen’s number Social Democrats authorities threatened to topple it unless she called elections to regain the assurance of voters.

More than 4 cardinal Danish voters tin take among 14 parties. Domestic themes person dominated the campaign, ranging from taxation cuts and a request to prosecute much nurses to financially enactment Danes amid ostentation and soaring vigor prices due to the fact that of Russia’s penetration of Ukraine.

At slightest 3 politicians are vying to go premier minister.

They see Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, who steered Denmark done the COVID-19 pandemic and teamed up with the absorption to boost Danish defence spending successful the aftermath of Russia’s penetration of Ukraine.

They besides see 2 centre-right absorption politicians – Jakob Ellemann-Jensen, the Liberal leader, and Søren Pape Poulsen, who heads the Conservatives.

PM Mette Frederiksen casts her ballot astatine a polling presumption successful Hareskovhallen successful Vaerloese [Sergei Grits/AP]

“We are warring to the end. It volition beryllium a adjacent election,” Frederiksen said aft voting northbound of Copenhagen. “I americium optimistic but I americium not definite of anything.”

A erstwhile Liberal leader, Rasmussen created his caller centrist enactment successful June.

According to the earlier polls, his Moderates could get arsenic overmuch arsenic 10 percent of the vote. He has hinted helium could spot a ruling conjugation with the Social Democrats and could besides beryllium considered a premier ministerial candidate.

On the centre right, 2 caller parties that privation to bounds migration are bidding to participate parliament and whitethorn propulsion retired a 3rd akin radical that has had a cardinal relation successful earlier governments by pushing for stricter migration rules without being wrong a governing coalition.

Among them are the Denmark Democrats, created successful June by erstwhile hardline migration curate Inger Støjberg.

In 2021, Støjberg was convicted by the seldom utilized Impeachment Court for ordering successful 2016 to abstracted asylum-seeking couples if 1 of the partners was a minor.

She has served her 60 days’ condemnation and is present eligible to tally again. Pollsters accidental her enactment could get astir 7 percent of the vote.

That could endanger the once-powerful populist, anti-immigration Danish People’s Party, which has been falling isolated successful caller months amid interior disputes and is hovering astir the 2 percent threshold needed to participate parliament.

In 2015, the enactment grabbed 21.1 percent of the vote.

People get to formed their ballot astatine a polling centre located astatine the Hareskovhallen sports hallway located successful Vaerlose, adjacent Copenhagen [Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP]

Støjberg’s enactment is akin to different 1 – the tiny nationalistic, anti-immigration New Right enactment – that is already successful parliament. They person called for a wide centre-right government.

Frederiksen has been heading a minority, one-party Social Democratic authorities since 2019 erstwhile she removed Rasmussen.

Of the 179 seats successful the Danish parliament, 2 travel from each of Denmark’s 2 autonomous territories – the Faroe Islands and Greenland.

Voting was exceptionally held connected Monday connected the Faroes – Tuesday is simply a nationalist vacation determination – and 1 spot went to the centre near and 1 to the centre close successful Denmark, Danish broadcaster DR said connected Tuesday. Voting successful Greenland is held connected Tuesday.