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Danish People's Party Leader Open to Supporting Løkke Government Under Certain Conditions
🇩🇰 Denmark /Elections & Politics

Danish People's Party Leader Open to Supporting Løkke Government Under Certain Conditions

From Berlingske · () Danish

Translated from Danish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Morten Messerschmidt, leader of the Danish People's Party (DF), is open to supporting a government led by Lars Løkke Rasmussen of the Moderates, but does not see the circumstances as currently favorable.
  • Messerschmidt refutes claims that DF's ultimatum regarding Løkke's participation in government led to Mette Frederiksen becoming prime minister.
  • He recalls past strong opposition to Løkke but suggests his stance might change, humorously noting he might have "eaten enough" by then.

Morten Messerschmidt, the chairman of the Danish People's Party (DF), has indicated a willingness to support a government led by Lars Løkke Rasmussen, the leader of the Moderates, provided the political circumstances are right. However, Messerschmidt stated that he does not believe those circumstances currently exist.

This will be a parliament where DF will be his absolute main opponent, and we will eat him and his people every single day!

— Morten MesserschmidtHis statement on election night regarding Lars Løkke Rasmussen.

In an interview with Berlingske, Messerschmidt addressed past political dynamics, particularly refuting the notion that DF's ultimatum, insisting Løkke not be part of a government formed with DF's support, was the direct cause of Mette Frederiksen (Social Democrats) becoming prime minister. Messerschmidt argued that there was no sufficient right-wing majority to form the government he campaigned for, and the Moderates themselves did not desire a minority right-wing government.

Messerschmidt's current openness contrasts sharply with his strong rhetoric following the last election. At that time, he declared on stage that DF would be Løkke's "absolute main opponent" and vowed to "eat him and his people every single day." When questioned by Berlingske about this apparent shift, Messerschmidt offered a wry response, suggesting that by the time such a scenario might arise again, his appetite for confrontation could be satisfied.

It is historical falsification. There was no bourgeois majority, and therefore we could not form the bourgeois majority government that I campaigned for.

— Morten MesserschmidtRefuting the claim that DF's ultimatum led to Mette Frederiksen becoming prime minister.

He also recalled an offer made to Løkke the day after the election, proposing that both DF and the Moderates back a "blue" (right-wing) government without participating in it themselves. Lars Løkke Rasmussen promptly rejected this proposal. Currently, the Moderates are part of the governing coalition with the Social Democrats, supported by other parties.

Perhaps I have eaten enough by then, and then it will no longer be relevant.

— Morten MesserschmidtHumorously responding to a question about his past strong opposition to Løkke.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Berlingske in Danish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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