Denmark PM calls snap election amid row with Trump over Greenland

South China Morning Post · Feb 26, 2026 · Collected from RSS

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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.The Danish government has been laying the groundwork for an early vote in recent weeks. It has rushed through relief grants on rising food prices, further sharpened its stance on immigration and presented plans to change the school system, including reduced class sizes.Frederiksen triggered the vote seven months before a constitutional deadline in a bid for a third term as prime minister.Although the conflict over Greenland is “by no means over, we have managed to get through it so far”, Frederiksen said. She also reassured Danes that the government will work to manage the situation during the campaign, including holding international meetings necessary “to safeguard the interests of the kingdom”.