Politics of Denmark

Politics of Denmark Dansk politik
Coat of arms of Denmark
Polity type	Unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy
Constitution	Constitution of Denmark
Legislative branch
Name	Parliament
Type	Unicameral
Meeting place	Christiansborg Palace
Presiding officer	Søren Gade, Speaker of the Parliament
Executive branch
Head of state
Title	Monarch
Currently	Frederik X
Appointer	Hereditary
Head of government
Title	Prime Minister
Currently	Mette Frederiksen
Appointer	Monarch
Cabinet
Name	Cabinet of Denmark
Current cabinet	Frederiksen II Cabinet
Leader	Prime Minister
Ministries	18
Judicial branch
Name	General Judicial System
Courts	Courts of Denmark
Supreme Court
Chief judge	Thomas Rørdam

Politics of Denmark
Constitution Fundamental laws Act of Succession Freedom of Speech Freedom of the Press
The Crown Monarch Frederik X Crown Prince Christian Royal family Privy Council Purveyors to the Royal Court
The unity of the Realm Denmark proper Faroe Islands Greenland
Executive Government Frederiksen II Prime Minister (list) Mette Frederiksen Government Offices Ministries High Commissioners Faroe Islands Greenland
Legislature Folketinget (parliament) Speaker: Søren Gade Members
Judiciary Supreme Court of Denmark Courts of Denmark Court of the Faroe Islands Courts of Greenland Judicial review
Elections Political parties: Denmark Faroe Islands Greenland Recent elections Parliamentary: 2022 2019 2015 European: 2019 2014 2009 Referendums
Administrative divisions Denmark proper Regions Municipalities Constituencies Faroe Islands Subdivisions of the Faroe Islands Greenland Subdivisions of Greenland
Foreign relations Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister: Lars Løkke Rasmussen Diplomatic missions of / to the Kingdom Nationality law Passport Visa requirements Visa policy Arctic policy of the Kingdom Politics of the European Union Arctic policy of the EU Denmark and the EU Faroe Islands and the EU Greenland and the EU
Related topics Arctic Command Defence Command Politics of the Faroe Islands Politics of Greenland Unitarism Home rule Self rule
Denmark portal Other countries
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The politics of Denmark take place within the framework of a parliamentary representative democracy, a constitutional monarchy and a decentralised unitary state in which the monarch of Denmark, King Frederik X, is the head of state.^[1] Denmark is a nation state. Danish politics and governance are characterized by a common striving for broad consensus on important issues, within both the political community and society as a whole.

Executive power is exercised by the cabinet of Denmark (commonly known as "the Government", Danish: regeringen), presided over by the Prime Minister (statsminister) who is first among equals. Legislative power is exercised by the Folketing, the unicameral parliament, and secondarily by the Cabinet, although it is common that members of the Folketing are also members of the Cabinet. Members of the judiciary are nominated by the executive (conventionally by recommendation of the judiciary itself), formally appointed by the monarch and employed until retirement.

Denmark has a multi-party system, with two large parties, and several other small but significant parties. No single party has held an absolute majority in the Folketing since the beginning of the 20th century.^[2] Thirteen parties have ballot access for the 2019 Danish general election, three of which did not contest 2015 general election. Since only four post-war coalition governments have enjoyed a majority, government bills rarely become law without negotiations and compromise with both supporting and opposition parties. Hence, the Folketing tends to be more powerful than legislatures in other EU countries. The Constitution does not grant the judiciary power of judicial review of legislation; however, the courts have asserted this power with the consent of the other branches of government. Since there are no constitutional or administrative courts, the Supreme Court also deals with constitutional matters.

On many issues the political parties tend to opt for co-operation, and the Danish state welfare model receives broad parliamentary support. This ensures a focus on public-sector efficiency and devolved responsibilities of local government on regional and municipal levels.

The degree of transparency and accountability is reflected in the public's high level of satisfaction with the political institutions, while Denmark is also regularly considered one of the least corrupt countries in the world by international organizations.^[3] The Economist Intelligence Unit rated Denmark as "full democracy" in 2016.^[4] According to the V-Dem Democracy indices Denmark is 2023 the most electoral democratic country in the world.^[5]