May 9, 2026, 7:29 amMay 9, 2026, 7:29 am
Could try to put together a possible government coalition from parties from the bourgeois-conservative camp: Troels Lund Poulsen.Image: keystone
After weeks of negotiations, Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has temporarily lost the mandate to form a new government. Instead, the right-wing liberal Troels Lund Poulsen can now explore the chances for his desired coalition. King Frederik X asked Poulsen to lead negotiations on the formation of a government, the Danish royal family said. The Social Democrat Frederiksen had previously recommended a new so-called royal round to the monarch.
All parliamentary parties present themselves to King Frederik X and announce who they are voting for to lead the government negotiations. Whoever has the greatest support can be the first to try to form a government. After the first royal round at the end of March, Frederiksen was given this mandate, but has not yet achieved a breakthrough in their negotiations.
Setback for Mette Frederiksen – but not the end yet
After the second royal round on Friday evening, it is now Troels Lund Poulsen’s turn. Until the parliamentary elections, his right-wing liberal party had been part of Frederiksen’s government together with the moderates of former Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen. Now Poulsen could try to put together a coalition of parties from the bourgeois-conservative camp.
This doesn’t necessarily mean the end for Mette Frederiksen. Forming a government is unlikely to be an easy task for Poulsen either. A third royal round – and a third term for Frederiksen – are not yet ruled out. (sda/dpa)