Denmark's coalition talks break down in setback for prime minister Frederiksen

Danish Prime Minister Mette ​Frederiksen's bid to form ​a new government coalition ‌broke down on ​Friday when a key partner abandoned the talks, jeopardising her ambition of securing ‌a third consecutive term in office after the March election.

Danish Prime Minister Mette ​Frederiksen's bid to form ​a new government coalition ‌broke down on ​Friday when a key partner abandoned the talks, jeopardising her ambition of securing ‌a third consecutive term in office after the March election. The prime minister's centre-left coalition talks reached a stalemate in recent weeks, slowing down ‌government decision making amid efforts to resolve a crisis in ‌ties with U.S. President Donald Trump's administration over Greenland.

Denmark's King Frederik must now hand the task of exploring government options to one of the 11 ⁠other party ​leaders. He could ⁠also reappoint Frederiksen, now or later, for a second attempt at forming a ⁠cabinet. The king will meet with Frederiksen at 1530 GMT on Friday, the ​palace said in a short statement.

Moderate Party leader Lars ⁠Lokke Rasmussen on Friday ended talks with Frederiksen and proposed that the task ⁠of ​leading the negotiations should be given to Troels Lund Poulsen of the Liberal Party, who could seek to form a ⁠centre-right government. Frederiksen's Social Democrats, in power since 2019, won 38 seats in ⁠the ⁠179-seat parliament, down from 50 in 2022, making it their worst election result since 1903.