On February 26, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen called for early parliamentary elections on March 24 amid recent tensions over US President Donald Trump's intentions with Denmark's autonomous territory of Greenland.
Now, voters will decide Denmark's direction in the next 4 years. And I look forward to that" - Ms. Frederiksen, 48, emphasized when announcing early elections in parliament.
Voters in this NATO and European Union member country will decide who will sit in the 179-member parliament, including 2 seats for legislators representing Greenland and 2 seats for other autonomous territories of the kingdom, the Faroe Islands.
Mr. Trump's push for the US to control Greenland, culminating in a threat last month about imposing new tariffs on Denmark and some other European countries, is a major challenge for the Danish government in the past year.
During the Greenland crisis, Ms. Frederiksen showed frankness and toughness. Last month, Ms. Frederiksen warned that the US occupation of Greenland would mean the end of the NATO military alliance.
Opinion polls also show that support for the Prime Minister's Social Democratic Party has increased in recent weeks, at a time dominated by the Greenland crisis.
Some Danish citizens are outraged by the US President's frequent statements about occupying Greenland to the point of participating in protests and even boycotting US goods at supermarkets.
When announcing the election on February 26, Ms. Frederiksen noted: "This will be an important election for us, because in the next 4 years, as Danes and Europeans, we really have to stand firm on our own feet.
We must clearly define our relationship with the US. We must equip ourselves with weapons to ensure peace on the continent. We must keep Europe united," she added, referring to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
After Mr. Trump withdrew his threats about Greenland last month, the US, Denmark and Greenland began technical negotiations on an Arctic security agreement.
However, Ms. Frederiksen clarified that she is still cautious about the Greenland issue. At the Munich Security Conference, when asked if the Greenland crisis had passed, she replied: "No, unfortunately not yet. I think the US President's wish is still the same. He is very serious about this issue".
Ms. Frederiksen, a member of the center-left Social Democratic Party, is famous for her strict immigration policies, one of the most stringent in Europe.
Living expenses in Denmark may also become a prominent topic in the election campaign.
The general election in Denmark must be held at least once every 4 years, but the prime minister can call for it at any time. The most recent election was held in Denmark on January 1, 2022.
Ms. Frederiksen has led Denmark since mid-2019. Currently, she heads a coalition government with the Liberal Party of Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen and the moderate centrist party of Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen, a former prime minister. If she is re-elected, this will be her 3rd term.
