site.btaBiggest Surprise in Danish EP Elections Is Social Democrats No Longer Being Biggest Party

In Denmark, the biggest surprise after the EP elections is that one of the government parties, the Social Democrats, are not the biggest party in Denmark anymore, Jens L. Mortensen, Associate Professor at University of Copenhagen's Department of Political Science, said in a BTA interview after the June 9 elections. "The Socialist People's Party is now the biggest party in the EP from Denmark. And that is a big surprise. It is a vote of no-confidence from the voters. That is the big story here in Denmark," he said. 

Mortensen believes the reason why the Socialists are so much more successful in Denmark than elsewhere in Europe, is that a lot of things worked for them in this election. "They put up a very strong team, they got three candidates in, but also they have cashed in on discontented centre voters. So they cashed in on the unpopularity of the current government, presented a very viable alternative, had a really good campaign. So for them this was a clear victory," he said.

The election was "a slap in the face on the current centrist coalition", to use Mortensen's words. The coalition consists of the Social Democrats and two liberal parties.

"Especially the Social Democrats are now in trouble. However, there won't be an election in Denmark for the next two years. They have a majority in our parliament, but their support is dwindling and it is going to be a political problem for them the next two years trying to defend their government. They are in the defensive now."

While the EP election outcome was clearly a protest vote against the government, Mortensen does not believe that it is going to change Denmark in Europe - not in the big picture. He is positive that Denmark will keep its green profile and policy on single market and exports. "Denmark is doing well economically so there is no change in that. But we do see a discontent with the current government and this is a clear indication of it," said the professor.