Denmark’s Social Democratic Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has, for now, abandoned her attempt to form a new government, one and a half months after the country’s general election.
On Friday evening, she recommended to King Frederik X that a further round of so-called “royal consultations” be held. In these, all parliamentary parties meet with the monarch and announce who they wish to see take the lead role in coalition talks.
Frederiksen had previously governed with the right-wing liberals and the Moderates, a centrist party led by former prime minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen.
Following the first round of talks with the monarch after the general election at the end of March, Frederiksen had been given a mandate to attempt to form a government involving the Socialist People’s Party and the left-wing liberals.
During the negotiations, she had also spoken with her previous coalition partners. However, after weeks of fruitless talks, Rasmussen said the leader of the right-wing liberal Venstre party, Troels Lund Poulsen, should be given the chance to try to form a coalition.
The second round of talks was due to begin on Friday evening, according to the Danish Royal Court.
Thanks to Rasmussen’s support, Poulsen could be given the opportunity to put together a coalition of parties from the centre-right conservative camp.
However, this would not necessarily mean the end of Frederiksen’s dream of a third term. She could still eventually become head of government – she would simply not be leading the negotiations for now.