List of political parties in Denmark
Encyclopedia
This article lists political parties
in Denmark
.
Denmark has a multi-party system
, with two or three strong parties, and four or five other significant parties. The government typically consists of several parties and a small number of supporting parties. No party has won an outright majority since 1901. All governments since then have either been one-party minority governments or coalitions between two or more parties. No single party has formed a government alone since 1982.
The Ministry of Social Welfare
registers and validates party names and the official party letters for all parties that participate in national elections. On ballots, the parties are sorted alphabetically by party letter.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
.
Denmark has a multi-party system
Multi-party system
A multi-party system is a system in which multiple political parties have the capacity to gain control of government separately or in coalition, e.g.The Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition in the United Kingdom formed in 2010. The effective number of parties in a multi-party system is normally...
, with two or three strong parties, and four or five other significant parties. The government typically consists of several parties and a small number of supporting parties. No party has won an outright majority since 1901. All governments since then have either been one-party minority governments or coalitions between two or more parties. No single party has formed a government alone since 1982.
The Ministry of Social Welfare
Ministry of Social Welfare (Denmark)
The Danish Ministry of Social Affairs was re-created in 2010 as a split of the Social Welfare ministry created after the 2007 Folketing elections. The split moved the section that had to do with the Ministry of the Interior off into the Ministry of the Interior and Health. The current minister is...
registers and validates party names and the official party letters for all parties that participate in national elections. On ballots, the parties are sorted alphabetically by party letter.
Parties represented in the Folketing or the European Parliament
| Party letter | Party name | Representation after the 2011 parliamentary election | Comments | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Folketing Folketing The Folketing , is the national parliament of Denmark. The name literally means "People's thing"—that is, the people's governing assembly. It is located in Christiansborg Palace, on the islet of Slotsholmen in central Copenhagen.... (parliament) |
European Parliament European Parliament The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world... |
|||
| V | Venstre Venstre (Denmark) VenstreThe party name is officially not translated into any other language, but is in English often referred to as the Liberal Party. Similar rules apply for the name of the party's youth wing Venstres Ungdom. , full name Venstre, Danmarks Liberale Parti , is the largest political party in Denmark... Venstre, Danmarks liberale parti (Venstre, Denmark's Liberal Party) |
47 | 3 | Centre-right, liberal party. Leader: Lars Løkke Rasmussen Lars Løkke Rasmussen Lars Løkke Rasmussen is a Danish politician who served as Prime Minister of Denmark from April 2009 to October 2011. He is the leader of the centre-right liberal party, Venstre.... |
| A | Social Democrats Social Democrats (Denmark) The Social Democrats , is a Danish political party committed to the political ideology of social democracy. It is the major coalition partner in Denmark's government since the 2011 parliamentary election, and party leader Helle Thorning-Schmidt is the current Prime Minister of Denmark... Socialdemokraterne |
44 | 4 | Centre-left, social democratic. Leader: Helle Thorning-Schmidt Helle Thorning-Schmidt Helle Thorning-Schmidt is a Danish politician and the current Prime Minister of Denmark. She has been leader of the Danish Social Democrats since April 2005 and prime minister since October 2011.... |
| O | Danish People's Party Danish People's Party The Danish People's Party is a political party in Denmark which is frequently described as right-wing populist by political scientists and commentators. The party is led by Pia Kjærsgaard... Dansk Folkeparti |
22 | 2 | Right-wing, National, populist, conservative. Leader: Pia Kjærsgaard Pia Kjærsgaard Pia Merete Kjærsgaard is a Danish politician. She is a co-founder and current leader of the Danish People's Party, a nativist, national conservative political party in Denmark... |
| F | Socialist People's Party Socialist People's Party (Denmark) The Socialist People's Party is a green and socialist political party in Denmark.-1959–69:The SF was founded on 15 February 1959 by Aksel Larsen, a former leader of the Communist Party of Denmark and CIA agent. Larsen was removed from the ranks of the DKP for his criticism over the Soviet... Socialistisk Folkeparti |
16 | 2 | Left-wing, socialist and green. Leader: Villy Søvndal Villy Søvndal Villy Søvndal is a Danish politician and Minister for Foreign Affairs in the government of Denmark since October 2011. Søvndal, a member of the Danish Parliament since 1994, is also leader of the Socialist People's Party.... |
| C | Conservative People's Party Conservative People's Party (Denmark) The Conservative People's Party , also known as Conservatives is a Danish political party.-History:The party was founded 1915 based mostly on its predecessor, Højre , but also on the Free Conservatives and a moderate faction of Venstre , the liberals.The party has participated in several coalition... Det Konservative Folkeparti |
8 | 1 | Conservative. Leader: Lars Barfoed Lars Barfoed Lars Barfoed is a Danish politician representing the Conservative People's Party. He was Justice Minister of Denmark from February 2010 to October 2011, and Deputy Prime Minister of Denmark from January to October 2011... |
| B | Danish Social Liberal Party Det Radikale Venstre The Danish Social Liberal Party is a social liberal political party in Denmark. The party is a member of Liberal International and the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party.-Origin:... Det Radikale Venstre |
17 | 0 | Social-liberal. Parliamentary group leader: Margrethe Vestager Margrethe Vestager Margrethe Vestager is a Danish politician representing Det Radikale Venstre. She has been a Member of Parliament since 20 November 2001. On 15 June 2007 she was appointed parliamentary group leader of her party, replacing Marianne Jelved.... |
| Ø | Red-Green Alliance Red-Green Alliance (Denmark) The Red-Green Alliance is a socialist political party in Denmark.- History :The party was formed in 1989 as an electoral alliance by three left-wing parties, Left Socialists , Communist Party of Denmark and Socialist Workers Party... Enhedslisten |
12 | 0 | Originally an alliance of Communist Party of Denmark Communist Party of Denmark Communist Party of Denmark is a communist political party in Denmark which was founded as Venstresocialistiske Parti in 1919. VSP was a split from the Danish Social Democratic Party. The party assumed its present name in 1920... Danmarks Kommunistiske Parti, Socialist Workers' Party Socialistisk Arbejderparti and the Left Socialists Left Socialists Left Socialists , a political party in Denmark. VS works on what it calls a 'undogmatic revolutionary and Marxist basis'.It was formed in 1967 as a split from the Socialist People's Party . VS was represented by the letter "Y" on the electoral ballots. VS members of parliament were respected and... Venstresocialisterne. Has collective leadership. |
| I | Liberal Alliance Liberal Alliance | 9 | 0 | Centre-right, liberal party. Leader: Anders Samuelsen Anders Samuelsen Anders Samuelsen is a Danish politician, member of the Folketing with the Liberal Alliance and former Member of the European Parliament sitting on the European Parliament's Committee on Budgets. He is a former member of Det Radikale Venstre, and was a Member of the Bureau of the Alliance of... |
| N | People's Movement against the EU People's Movement against the EU The People's Movement against the EU is a political association in Denmark against the European Union. It was founded in 1972 as a cross-party campaign platform for a 'no' vote in Denmark's referendum on EEC membership... Folkebevægelsen mod EU |
0 | 1 | Euroscepticism Euroscepticism Euroscepticism is a general term used to describe criticism of the European Union , and opposition to the process of European integration, existing throughout the political spectrum. Traditionally, the main source of euroscepticism has been the notion that integration weakens the nation state... , Sovereignty Sovereignty Sovereignty is the quality of having supreme, independent authority over a geographic area, such as a territory. It can be found in a power to rule and make law that rests on a political fact for which no purely legal explanation can be provided... , Nonpartisan Nonpartisan In political science, nonpartisan denotes an election, event, organization or person in which there is no formally declared association with a political party affiliation.... . Has collective leadership |
Parties without parliamentary representation (in the Folketing or European Parliament)
- K Christian DemocratsChristian Democrats (Denmark)The Christian Democrats are a political party in Denmark. The party was founded in 1970 to oppose the liberalization of restrictions on pornography and the legalization of abortion....
(Kristendemokraterne). Last represented in the Folketing 2010-2011 by Per Ørum Jørgensen (formerly Conservative). - Z Progress PartyProgress Party (Denmark)The Progress Party is a political party in Denmark, which was founded in 1972. Its founder, the former lawyer Mogens Glistrup, gained huge popularity in Denmark after he appeared on Danish television, showing that he paid 0 % in income tax...
(Fremskridtspartiet). Last represented in the 1998-2001 Folketing.
Regional parties
- S Schleswig Party (Slesvigsk Parti). Represents the German minority in South JutlandSouth Jutland CountySouth Jutland County is a former county on the south-central portion of the Jutland Peninsula in southern Denmark....
. Last represented in the Folketing in the 1950s. Represented in the municipal councils of AabenraaAabenraa MunicipalityAabenraa Municipality or Åbenrå Municipality is a municipality in Region of Southern Denmark in south-western Denmark. It has existed in its current form since 1 January 2007 following a merger of several smaller municipalities. The municipality has an area of 951 km² and a total population...
, Tønder and Sønderborg municipalities. Holds an observer's seat in Haderslev municipal council.
Marginal parties
The following parties still exist but have remained without representation in either Folketing or the European Parliament for at least 20 years.- E Justice Party of DenmarkJustice Party of DenmarkDanmarks Retsforbund was founded in 1919. The party's platform is based upon the principles of U.S. economist Henry George who advocated a single tax on all land...
(Retsforbundet). Last represented in the 1979-1981 Folketing. - K Communist Party of DenmarkCommunist Party of DenmarkCommunist Party of Denmark is a communist political party in Denmark which was founded as Venstresocialistiske Parti in 1919. VSP was a split from the Danish Social Democratic Party. The party assumed its present name in 1920...
(Danmarks Kommunistiske Parti). Last represented in the 1977-1979 Folketing. - U Independent PartyIndependent Party (Denmark)The Independent Party is a liberalist and anti-elitist political party in Denmark. It was formed in 1953 as a breakaway party from Venstre as a protest against the established centre-right parties' cooperation with the Social Democrats. The Independent Party later got an anti-elitist character....
(De Uafhængige). Last represented in the Folketing 1973-1974. - Y Left SocialistsLeft SocialistsLeft Socialists , a political party in Denmark. VS works on what it calls a 'undogmatic revolutionary and Marxist basis'.It was formed in 1967 as a split from the Socialist People's Party . VS was represented by the letter "Y" on the electoral ballots. VS members of parliament were respected and...
(Venstresocialisterne) Last represented in the 1984-1987 Folketing. - Å National Socialist Movement of DenmarkNational Socialist Movement of DenmarkThe National Socialist Movement of Denmark , also known as the DNSB, is a neo-Nazi political party in Denmark. The movement traces its origins back to DNSAP , the Danish Nazi party founded in the mid-1930s, more or less as a copy of Hitler's German NSDAP...
(Danmarks Nationalsocialistiske Bevægelse). Never represented in either Folketing or European Parliament. Considers itself the heir of the DNSAPDNSAPDNSAP may stand for:* Danmarks Nationalsocialistiske Arbejderparti - the Danish Nazi party* Deutsche Nationalsozialistische Arbeiterpartei - an Austrian Pan-Germanic party in the early 20th century...
which was last represented in the 1943 Folketing.
Defunct parties
- Bjørnbakkernes Venstre
- F Farmers' PartyFarmers' Party (Denmark)The Farmers' Party , initially known as the Free People's Party , was a political party in Denmark. In was founded in 1923 as the political wing of Landbrugernes Sammenslutning. At the time of the founding of the party, 3 Venstre MPs joined it.In 1939 the name was changed to Farmers' Party...
(Bondepartiet) - D Centre Democrats (Centrum-Demokraterne).
- P Common CourseCommon CourseCommon Course was a political party in Denmark, which held 4 seats in the Danish parliament Folketinget 1987-1988. It was officially formed in 1986, but it was built on several fractions of the Communist Party of Denmark emerging in 1979 already...
(Fælles Kurs) - Communist LeagueCommunist League (Denmark)The Communist League was a political party in Denmark. KF was founded on 21 January 1973 in Århus, by the 'Leninist Fraction' inside the Left Socialists ....
(Kommunistisk Forbund) - R Danish UnityDanish UnityDanish Unity was a political party in Denmark, founded in 1936 by Arne Sørensen. It contested elections in 1939, 1943, 1945, 1947, April 1953 and then once more in 1964. It remains as a political organisation....
(Dansk Samling) - G Danish People's Party, FirstDanish People's Party, FirstThe Danish People's Party was a political party in Denmark during the German occupation in World War II. It was formed on March 1, 1941 by former members of the Nazi DNSAP, as well as some politicians originally from the liberal Danmarks Retsforbund, the Conservative People's Party and the Social...
(Dansk Folkeparti) - Danmarks Venstresocialistiske Parti
- Det Forenede Venstre
- Free ConservativesFree ConservativesThe Free Conservatives was a political party in Denmark, with significant influence in the political life of the country in the early 20th century, especially during the J. C. Christensen cabinet. The main leader of the party was Count Mogens Frijs-Frijsenborg. Other prominent figures were Tage...
(Frikonservative) - Free People's PartyFarmers' Party (Denmark)The Farmers' Party , initially known as the Free People's Party , was a political party in Denmark. In was founded in 1923 as the political wing of Landbrugernes Sammenslutning. At the time of the founding of the party, 3 Venstre MPs joined it.In 1939 the name was changed to Farmers' Party...
(Det Frie Folkeparti) - Free Social DemocratsFree Social DemocratsFree Social Democrats was a political party in Denmark. It was founded in 1920 by Emil Marott. He had been a Member of Parliament 1903-1920 for the Social Democrats...
(Frie Socialdemokrater) - Frihed 2000 (not registered as a party but represented in parliament as a parliamentary group)
- V Hovedstadens Venstre (split of Venstre that only existed to contest the 1947 Folketing electionDanish Folketing election, 1947Folketing elections were held in Denmark on 28 October 1947, except in the Faroe Islands where they were held on 18 February 1948. The Social Democratic Party remained the largest in the Folketing, with 57 of the 150 seats...
in order to exploit a peculiarity of the election law) - HøjreHøjreHøjre was the name of two Danish political parties of Conservative persuasion.The first Højre party existed from 1848 to 1866....
- Independent Party (De Uafhængige)
- J June MovementJune MovementThe June Movement was a Danish eurosceptic political organisation founded 23 August 1992. It took its name from the referendum on the Maastricht Treaty that took place in Denmark in June of that year...
(Juni Bevægelsen; represented in the European Parliament) - L Liberal Centre (Liberalt Centrum)
- M Minority PartyMinority Party (Denmark)The Minority Party is former a Danish political party that did not gain parliamentary representation.-History:The Minority Party is a Danish political party which was founded in 2000 by a group of minority groups. One of the party's primus motors were Rune Engelbreht Larsen, who was chairman of...
(Minoritetspartiet) - Moderate Venstre
- N National Socialist Workers' Party of Denmark (Danmarks Nationalsocialistiske Arbejderparti)
- National Liberal PartyNational Liberal Party (Denmark)The National Liberal Party , was a Danish political party or political movement from the 1830s until about 1880.Often considered "the first Danish political party" the National Liberals were gradually founded as the opposition against the Danish absolute monarchy...
(De Nationalliberale) - M Peace Politics People's PartyPeace Politics People's PartyPeace Politics People's Party was a pacifist, liberal political party in Denmark. The party was founded on December 16, 1963. It demanded that Denmark should leave NATO and that the country should be placed under the protection of the United Nations. It also advocated expanding foreign...
(Fredspolitisk Folkeparti) - Society of the Friends of Peasants (Bondevennernes Selskab)
- D The Free Democrats (De Frie Demokrater)
- Union of Conscientiously Work-Shy ElementsUnion of Conscientiously Work-Shy ElementsThe Union of Conscientiously Work-Shy Elements was an unusually successful frivolous political party in Denmark. It was founded in Aarhus in 1979 by a comedian, Jacob Haugaard , and a few friends...
(Sammenslutning af Bevidst Arbejdssky Elementer) - Venstre Reform Party (Venstrereformpartiet)
See also
- List of political parties
- Liberalism and radicalism in DenmarkLiberalism and radicalism in DenmarkThis article gives an overview of liberalism and radicalism in Denmark. It is limited to liberal and radical egalitarian parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament. The sign ⇒ denotes another party in that scheme...
- Youth wings of political parties in Denmark