Mette Frederiksen Unveils New Danish Coalition Government

Denmark’s caretaker Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen unveiled her third coalition government on Wednesday, putting an end to two months of political blockage following last March’s national election.

After spending the past seven years governing with center-right parties, the Danish Social Democrat opted to form a left-leaning coalition with the insurgent Green Left party, the Social Liberals and The Moderates.

Her cabinet’s 21 ministers include familiar faces like former prime minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen, who remains foreign minister and will continue to oversee negotiations with the U.S. regarding Greenland’s sovereignty.

In a notable swap, current Minister of Justice Peter Hummelgaard and Minister of Finance Nicolai Wammen will switch roles. While both politicians were previously seen as Frederiksen’s potential successors, Danish political experts viewed the move as a sign the prime minister prefers Hummelgaard to someday lead the Social Democrats.

Should the prime minister step down before the end of the legislative term, the minister of finance would be best positioned to replace her. But Frederiksen denied such interpretations of the ministerial moves, telling reporters the swap was just part of the wider reshuffle of roles within the new government.

Several standalone portfolios have been absorbed by other ministries in the new cabinet, which is the first in Danish history with more women than men.

In addition to the Green Transition and the Food, Agriculture and Fisheries portfolios, the European Affairs Ministry — which was created to prepare and manage the country’s stint in the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU— has also been scrapped.