Danish Social Democrats lose ground in local polls on cost-of-living, welfare concerns

Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen holds a doorstep after her speech during the Social Democrats' election party at the Workers Museum in Copenhagen, Denmark, November 18, 2025. Emil Nicolai Helms/Ritzau Scanpix/via REUTERS

COPENHAGEN (Reuters) -Denmark's ruling Social Democratic Party suffered big losses in municipal elections, official results showed on Wednesday, less than a year before a national vote, amid public discontent with the cost of living and erodingwelfare services.

Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen's SDP, long the dominant force in Danish politics and the architect of its cradle-to-grave welfare state, retained its position as the largest party with 23% of votes, down from 28% in the last municipal election.