Opposition heads for Denmark election victory in boost to far right

An opposition centre-right alliance led by former prime minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen was poised to take power in Denmark after an election on Thursday that also gave a big boost to an anti-immigration, right-wing party. With all of the votes counted on the mainland, state broadcaster DR projected 90 seats for the opposition coalition in parliament to 85 seats for the ruling centre-left bloc of Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt, who wrongly gambled that an economic upturn would win her re-election. The results represent a surprise yet clear victory for the bloc led by Rasmussen, even though his Liberals party won fewer votes than the right-wing Danish People’s Party (DF) which is part of his alliance. DF becomes the second largest party in parliament after Thorning-Schmidt’s Social Democrats.

What we have said before the election is also what we will follow after the election - that we will be where the political influence is greatest.

Kristian Thulesen Dahl, DF leader

Despite the outcome, DF has been coy about whether it would even enter a government for the first time in its 20-year history. Opinion polls throughout the campaign, as well as exit polls, had put the centre-left and centre-right neck and neck. Thorning-Schmidt called an early election, hoping to capitalise on an economic recovery that followed unpopular reforms. The centre-left parties supporting the PM closed a wide gap in recent months and the momentum appeared to be with her, as her personal ratings were far higher than those of Rasmussen. But Rasmussen reminded voters of the promises broken after the 2011 election when she cut unemployment benefits and student grants as the economy slumped. DF’s campaign on restricting immigration also seems to have resonated with many disenchanted voters.

Lars Lokke Rasmussen has been heading the mediation … between the conservative parties for three and a half years. And he will also be heading the mediation for a cooperation in a new conservative government if this forecast becomes reality, which it seems that it will.

Kristian Jensen, Liberal Party vice chairman

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