Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen of Denmark speaks to the media after meeting with President Joe Biden at the White House in Washington, D.C., June 5, 2023. Frederiksen called for snap elections to be held in March. File Photo by Chris Kleponis/UPI | License Photo
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on Thursday called for snap parliamentary elections to take place in March.
The March 24 elections are scheduled to take place more than a year and a half before her deadline to call the elections, The New York Times reported.
Danish King Frederik X accepted Frederiksen’s request for early elections.
“Following the prime minister’s recommendation, which has been accepted by His Majesty the King, it has been decided by open letter that, in order to give the voters of Folketinget the opportunity to take a position on important political issues, new elections to Folketinget will be held on Tuesday, March 24, 2026.
The Times and The Guardian reported that experts believe Frederiksen’s made the decision for early elections to take advantage of strong polling she received in the wake of her response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s efforts to take control of Greenland.
Greenland is an autonomous territory of Denmark, and leaders from both countries vocally opposed Trump’s threats to take Greenland “one way or another” in January. Frederiksen said Denmark was at a “crossroads” with the United States over the dispute.
“Disagreements and conflicts between the United States and Europe only benefit our adversaries,” she said in a Facebook post. They weaken us and strengthen them.”
Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen was pointed in his objections.
“I know a lot of people are following the situation closely,” he said in a Facebook post.
“And I understand if there is concern. That is why it is important to be absolutely clear: Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark and part of NATO through the commonwealth. This means that our security and defense belong in NATO. That is a fundamental and firm line.
“We are a democratic society that makes our own decisions. And our actions are based on international law.
