Denmark PM calls snap election amid row with Trump over Greenland
Frederiksen triggered the March 24 vote seven months before a constitutional deadline in a bid for a third term as prime minister
Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen called an early election for March 24, betting a popularity boost from a stand-off with US President Donald Trump over Greenland will help secure her another term in office.
The move comes after the US president revived claims over the Arctic territory in early January, causing a diplomatic rift with Europe.
The rupture in relations bolstered Frederiksen’s domestic standing, reinforcing her image as a disciplined and steady leader during periods of national strain.
“It will be a decisive election, because in the next four years, we as Danes, and we as Europeans, will truly have to stand on our own,” Frederiksen, 48, said in a speech on Thursday in parliament.
“We must define our relationship with the US. We must rearm to secure peace on our continent. We must hold Europe together and we must safeguard the future of the Kingdom of Denmark.”
As in Denmark, Trump’s return to the White House is set to shape political elections across Europe. With major votes looming across the bloc, the outcomes will help determine how Europe positions itself towards the US and how much it seeks to stand on its own.