The Social Democrats again became the largest force in parliament with 27.5% of the vote, the party’s best election in more than two decades. The left-wing bloc received 87 seats in the 179-seat parliament, which would give it a majority with the support of a mandate in the Faroe Islands and two yet-to-be-determined seats in Greenland, a dominant Danish region that often elects left-wing candidates. The result would give Frederiksen the mandate to be the first to try to form a new government. A majority of left-wing parties is likely to pose a dilemma for Frederiksen, who has advocated a broad coalition across the traditional left-right divide, arguing that political unity is needed at a time of international uncertainty. He could start negotiations with the previous prime minister, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, and his new non-aligned party, the Moderates, which has also campaigned for a coalition of mainstream parties. Left-wing parties that Frederiksen can rely on to form a new government include the Socialist People’s Party, the Red-Green Alliance and the Social Liberal Party, the latter led by European Union competition commissioner Margrethe Vestager. Jakob Ellemann-Jensen, leader of the opposition Liberal Party, conceded defeat early Wednesday. His party lost 19 of its 43 seats in parliament.
