Denmark's left-wing bloc led by PM Frederiksen edges towards majority, polls show


FILE PHOTO: Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen attends a session with heads of state at the Hamburg Townhall, on the day of the third international North Sea Summit, in Hamburg, Germany January 26, 2026. REUTERS/Fabian Bimmer/Pool/File Photo

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COPENHAGEN, ⁠Feb 27 (Reuters) - Fresh opinion polls ahead of Denmark's March 24 parliamentary election ⁠showed Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen's Social Democrats nearing a majority with ‌left-wing parties, indicating an end to nearly four years of cross-partisan government.

The election will determine whether voters reward Frederiksen for her defence of Danish sovereignty over Greenland and international leadership or criticize her ​government for what opponents see as neglect of ⁠domestic concerns.

Two surveys showed the ⁠left-leaning bloc led by Frederiksen winning 87-88 seats in Denmark's 179-seat parliament, according to ⁠polls ‌by Epinion and Megafon for broadcasters DR and TV2, just short of the 90 needed for a majority.

The right-leaning bloc led by Defence Minister ⁠Troels Lund Poulsen of the Liberal Party was projected ​to win 73 and ‌77 seats in the two polls.

Parliament includes four seats from Greenland and ⁠the Faroe ​Islands, which usually abstain from Danish domestic politics but could be decisive in a close race.

Parties have traditionally aligned in left and right blocs, but the 2022 election produced a ⁠cross-party coalition of the Social Democrats, the Liberal ​Party and the Moderates, led by Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen, a former prime minister.

The coalition is set to lose its majority, with support down 13 and 15 ⁠percentage points in the two polls.

The first leaders' debate on Thursday highlighted clear divisions over Frederiksen's proposal to introduce a wealth tax to fund education and welfare.

Opposition Liberal Alliance leader Alex Vanopslagh dismissed it as "pettiness,", while Moderates leader Rasmussen called ​it "stupid."

Critics cited Norway's wealth tax, saying it drove millionaires ⁠abroad and could undermine long-term growth, while supporters argue the measure would reduce inequality ​and fund social programmes.

Support for Frederiksen's Social Democrats ‌has rebounded from a December low of 17% ​to 20.8% and 21.8% in the two polls. The party won 28% in the 2022 election.

(Reporting by Stine Jacobsen; Editing by Nivedita Bhattacharjee)

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