Online-panel: Will the Greenland standoff help Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen remain in office?

Background:

On 26 February 2026, Denmark’s Prime Minister called early elections to be held on 24 March 2026. As the popularity of her party began to decline, Mette Frederiksen used her suddenly improved ratings — triggered by the Greenland crisis — to call a snap election. Prime Minister underlined that Greenland was not for sale, despite President Trump’s requests.

However, analysts suggest that Greenland does not appear to be a key concern for voters. The topic was not even mentioned during the first election debate. Instead, voters are more focused on the deportation of migrants, despite Denmark having maintained one of the strictest migration policies in Europe for the past 25 years.

What are the key electoral issues? There seems to be a consensus regarding Denmark‘ active foreign and defence policies: support for Israel and Ukraine has prompted a significant increase in military spending, bringing Denmark to the forefront of Europe’s defence heavyweights.

Frederiksen leads a coalition government. Her Foreign Minister, Lars Løkke Rasmussen of the Moderates, played a prominent role in negotiations with the United States,over Greenland while Defence Minister Troels Poulsen, leader of Venstre, has overseen the increase in military spending. Greenland issue is not over and the war in Ukraine continues.

All 179 seats in the Danish parliament (Folketing) will be contested: 175 in Denmark proper, two in Greenland, and two in the Faroe Islands.

Will elections bring any policy changes?

Speakers:

Rune Stubager is an award-winning professor at the Department of Political Science at Aarhus University. His research focuses on electoral behaviour, public opinion, and political sociology in Denmark.

Michael Jarlner is a journalist and foreign affairs commentator at Politiken.

Concept and Moderation:
Mirjana Tomic, fjum/Presseclub Concordia