Mette Frederiksen

Ahead of the 2026 elections, the government proposed making it easier to deport foreign nationals convicted of serious crimes, including where earlier decisions based on family ties and the European Convention on Human Rights might have prevented removal.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

In the parliamentary elections of 24 March 2026, the Social Democrats fell to 38 seats, their worst result in more than a century according to Reuters, while remaining the largest party. The unpopularity of certain domestic policies — notably abolition of the public holiday, tax cuts perceived as favouring wealthier people and the experience of centrist coalition government — was cited among the factors.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

Faced with new PISA results considered highly concerning for Danish pupils' reading, mathematics, science and concentration, Frederiksen publicly acknowledged that politicians, herself included, bore some responsibility. The discussion notably revived criticism of school closures during Covid and intensive digitalisation of childhood.

State of the evidence

Admitted by the person

Attribution

Shared responsibility

Following 7 October 2023, Frederiksen strongly defended Israel's right to exist and defend itself, while progressively calling for greater protection of civilians and a ceasefire. Pro-Palestinian activists accused her of excessively supporting Israel and directed extremely serious accusations against her.

State of the evidence

Allegations

Attribution

Direct responsibility

On Denmark's behalf, Frederiksen formally apologised to thousands of Greenlandic women and girls who had been fitted with contraceptive devices, often without consent, under historical medical policies. She referred to systemic discrimination and physical and psychological harm.

State of the evidence

Documented

Frederiksen was struck on a Copenhagen street by a man who was subsequently convicted and sentenced to four months' imprisonment and deportation from Denmark. She sustained a minor neck injury and cancelled several engagements.

State of the evidence

Documented

Role of the person profiled

Protagonist is the victim

The military intelligence agency FE affair led to the suspension of senior officials, the arrest and more than 70 days' pre-trial detention of former chief Lars Findsen, followed by proceedings concerning the disclosure of state secrets. The cases against Findsen and former minister Claus Hjort Frederiksen were ultimately dropped in November 2023 after Supreme Court decisions requiring greater openness.

Person targeted by the proceedings

Lars Findsen et Claus Hjort Frederiksen

Role of the person profiled

Protagonist not prosecuted

The Frederiksen II government abolished the historic Store Bededag public holiday to increase labour supply and help fund defence. Major trade union federations organised a demonstration estimated by organisers to involve at least 50,000 people, one of the largest in more than a decade.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

Following hundreds of demonstrations involving Qur'an burnings, the government secured passage of a law penalising certain treatment deemed inappropriate of important religious texts. Opponents condemned what they considered a historic retreat from freedom of expression.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Shared responsibility

Following the Mink Commission's report, a parliamentary majority including her own party formally reprimanded Frederiksen, considering her politically responsible overall for a highly criticisable process which had insufficiently protected the rule of law.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

The Frederiksen government secured a legal basis for transferring asylum seekers to a third country outside Europe for assessment of their claims and subsequently explored cooperation with Rwanda. The UN, European Commission and NGOs warned of potential infringements of refugee rights and the transfer of responsibility to poorer countries.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

During her first term, Frederiksen was regularly accused of concentrating more decisions and communications in the Prime Minister's Office, to the detriment of individual ministries and traditional government functioning. Criticism intensified with her handling of Covid and the mink affair.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Direct responsibility

Following the 2022 election, in which the left-wing bloc narrowly secured 90 seats, Frederiksen chose to form a coalition with Venstre and the Moderates, the first grand coalition of its kind in decades. Sections of the Social Democratic left and former allies accused her of shifting the government towards the centre-right.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

Following the closure of large parts of society on 11 March 2020, the opposition challenged the assertion that the decision had been taken on the basis of 'the authorities' recommendations', arguing that certain specific measures reflected broader political choices beyond formal public health recommendations.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

It emerged that Frederiksen's and several senior officials' phones were configured to automatically delete text messages after 30 days, thereby erasing messages covering the critical period of the mink affair before they could be provided to the Commission.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Frederiksen told Parliament that Denmark's ambition was to build a system moving towards zero asylum seekers arriving spontaneously in the country, favouring assistance in regions near crises and quota-based systems.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Personally implicated

Denmark began reviewing and revoking residence permits for certain Syrians on the grounds that Damascus and its surrounding areas had become sufficiently safe. UNHCR, NGOs, lawyers and European politicians criticised the policy.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

Frederiksen long refused to repatriate certain children with links to Denmark from Syrian camps when their return also involved their mothers who had joined Islamic State. Left-wing parties and children's rights advocates accused the government of making children pay for their parents' actions.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

After almost ten weeks of a pay dispute, the government asked Parliament to intervene through legislation to end the nurses' strike, essentially reinstating the agreement previously rejected by employees. Trade unions condemned what they considered an infringement of their campaign for better pay and pay equality.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Shared responsibility

The government ordered the culling of approximately 17 million mink following the emergence of a coronavirus variant. It subsequently emerged that there was no legal basis for ordering the culling of healthy animals outside infected areas.

Attribution

Political responsibility

After becoming leader of the Social Democrats, Frederiksen shifted the party towards a far more restrictive migration policy, notably supporting several centre-right government measures and linking the welfare state's viability to strict immigration controls. Sections of the left condemned the strategy as adopting themes of the nationalist right.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

The Frederiksen government proposed a procedure allowing Danish citizenship to be administratively withdrawn from foreign fighters holding dual nationality while they were still abroad. Lawyers and rights advocates criticised the measure over procedural safeguards.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

Under Frederiksen's leadership, the Social Democrats voted in favour of legislation allowing the seizure of certain asylum seekers' assets to contribute towards their reception costs, a measure which prompted significant international condemnation.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Shared responsibility

Frederiksen defended a social assistance reform redirecting those under 30 towards education and training and imposing additional obligations on beneficiaries considered fit for work. Opponents condemned savings made at the expense of benefits and increased pressure on vulnerable people.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

As Employment Minister, Frederiksen introduced a reform substantially reducing access to and benefits under the efterløn early retirement scheme, although the Social Democrats had opposed the reform before the election. The legislation formed part of a government compromise imposed by the coalition agreement with the Social Liberals.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

Frederiksen advanced a reform of disability pensions and 'flexjobs', introducing new rehabilitation pathways and significantly modifying benefits, with the aim of keeping more people in employment. Organisations and disabled beneficiaries condemned reduced incomes and unrealistic assumptions about people's ability to increase their capacity for work.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility