Mette Frederiksen returns as Denmark PM

• Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen presented a three-party majority coalition that crosses the left-right divide and includes the leader of the Liberal Party and a former prime minister in key jobs.

• Frederiksen, whose Social Democratic Party won more than a quarter of votes in the general election on November 1 to become the biggest in Parliament, agreed to form a rare coalition across the political divide.

• Opposition leader Jakob Ellemann-Jensen of the Liberal Party was appointed deputy prime minister and defence minister, while former prime minister and leader of the newly formed Moderates party, Lars Lokke Rasmussen, was appointed foreign minister. 

• It was the first time in 44 years that such a centrist government had been formed, bringing an end to the two blocs that have opposed each other for decades.

• The new governing coalition was announced after 42 days of talks following the November 1 general elections. The three parties control 89 seats in the 179-seat parliament and are also supported by the four lawmakers representing the semi-independent Danish territories of Greenland and the Faroe Islands.

• The last time Denmark was governed by a centrist coalition was in 1978 when the Social Democrats teamed up with the Liberals. That lasted eight months.

• Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Frederiksen on her re-election, saying he looked forward to continuing the cooperation between the two countries.

India-Denmark relations

• The diplomatic relations between India and Denmark, established in September 1949, are marked by regular high level exchanges, and are based on historical links, common democratic traditions and shared desire for regional, as well as international peace and stability. 

• Bilateral relations were elevated to the level of “Green Strategic Partnership” during the Virtual Summit held in September 2020 between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister of Denmark  Mette Frederiksen.

• The Green Strategic Partnership is a mutually beneficial arrangement to advance political cooperation, expand economic relations and green growth, create jobs and strengthen cooperation on addressing global challenges and opportunities, with focus on an ambitious implementation of the Paris Agreement and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

• There are several bilateral institutional mechanisms at different levels between India and Denmark. The Joint Commission Meeting at the Foreign Ministers' level (established in 2008) and the Foreign Office Consultations at Secretary-level (established in 1995) provide the broad framework for bilateral consultations encompassing all areas of mutual interest.

• Bilateral trade in goods and services between India and Denmark has grown to $5 billion in 2021. Indian exports reached $2 billion in 2021, while imports amounted to around $3 billion.

• The major export items from India to Denmark are textiles, apparels and yarns related, vehicles and components, metal goods, iron and steel, leather and footwear, and travel goods. Major Danish exports to India are medicinal/pharmaceutical products, power generating machinery, industrial machinery, metal waste and ore, and organic chemicals.

• The value of total direct investment inflows from Denmark to India during 2000-2020 was $1.5 billion. Around 200 Danish companies have invested in India in sectors such as shipping, renewable energy, environment, agriculture, food processing and smart urban development.

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