The new Danish government is formed: a historic female majority, the first minister from an ethnic minority, and sweeping changes to key ministerial portfolios.

Frederiksen unveils a 21-member cabinet and affirms commitment to a responsible economy and green transition.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen announced the formation of a new government comprising 21 ministers from the Social Democrats, Moderates, Socialist People's Party and Radical Left Party, in a move described as historic after women became the majority of government members for the first time in Denmark's history.

Frederiksen, in presenting the new government at Amalienborg Palace, affirmed that the new government represents “a greener, fairer, richer, and safer Denmark,” noting that the government agreement includes new initiatives for children, animal welfare, and enhancing the competitiveness of the Danish economy, while maintaining a strong and responsible economy.

A female majority sets a precedent in Danish history

The new government made Danish political history by including 11 women compared to 10 men, becoming the first government in the country's history to include more women than men.

Frederiksen noted that this result represents a historic milestone in Danish political life, at a time when the square of Amalienborg Palace witnessed a large public and media presence during the official announcement of the new cabinet.

New government lineup

The new government included the following names:

• Mette Frederiksen is the Prime Minister.
• Pia Olsen Dyhr is the Minister for Economic Affairs and Home Affairs.
• Lars Løkke Rasmussen as Minister of Foreign Affairs.
• Martin Lidegaard as Minister for Business and Competitiveness.
• Peter Hummelgaard as Minister of Finance.
• Nicolai Wammen as Minister of Justice.
• Christina Egelund is the Minister for Research, Education and Digitalization.
• Samira Nawa is the Minister of Climate, Energy and Supply.
• Signe Munk is the Minister for Cities, Rural Areas and Transport.
• Morten Bødskov as Minister for Immigration and Integration.
• Magnus Heunicke as Minister of Education.
• Ane Halsboe-Jørgensen is the Minister for Employment and Equality.
• Jeppe Bruus as Minister of Defence.
• Jakob Engel-Schmidt as Minister of Taxation and Growth.
• Ida Auken is the Minister of Health and Church Affairs.
• Christian Rabjerg Madsen is the Minister for Nature and Animal Welfare.
• Zenia Stampe is the Minister of Culture.
• Lisbeth Bech-Nielsen is the Minister for Community Safety and Emergencies.
• Jacob Mark as Minister for Children, the Elderly and Housing.
• Monika Rubin is the Minister for Social Affairs and Scandinavian Cooperation.
• Maria Reumert Gjerding is the Minister for the Environment.

Maria Reumert Gerding pledges dialogue with farmers

The new Environment Minister, Maria Reumert Gjerding, confirmed that she has a big task ahead of her, which is to build bridges of cooperation with farmers in light of the new government plans related to the environment and agriculture.

In remarks to TV 2, she said the government intends to implement broad environmental reforms, including a national ban on some agricultural pesticides and a restructuring of the agricultural sector, but stressed the importance of involving farmers in shaping the course of these changes.

She added: “A lot needs to happen, but my ambition is that we try to chart a path to that together.”.

When asked what title she preferred for herself, after former minister Magnus Heunicke had described himself as the ”Minister of the Sea,” she replied: “I will be content with the title of Minister of the Environment.”.

The new Minister of Environment reveals her party affiliation.

Gerding has for the first time explicitly declared that she is a member of the Socialist People's Party (SF), after remaining silent about her party affiliation during her time as president of the Danish Society for the Protection of Nature.

She revealed that she received a call from party leader Pia Olsen Dyhr on Tuesday evening, before Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen called to confirm the offer of the ministerial post.

She said that her selection to head the Ministry of Environment was of particular importance to her because she had spent her professional life working on environmental, nature and marine issues.

She added: “I am a member of SF, and I am the Minister of the Environment for the Socialist People’s Party.”.

A surprise exchange between the Ministries of Finance and Justice

The decision to transfer Peter Hummelgaard from the Ministry of Justice to the Ministry of Finance, in exchange for Nicolai Wammen moving from the Ministry of Finance to the Ministry of Justice, has attracted widespread interest in Danish political circles.

Mette Frederiksen said the decision was not related to any arrangements for her future succession within the Social Democratic Party, stressing that the two ministers were among her closest political allies.

She explained that her goal was to give the Social Democratic ministers new responsibilities and not keep them in the same portfolios they had previously held.

Hommelgaard refuses to discuss political succession.

New Finance Minister Peter Hummelgaard declined to comment on analyses that considered his appointment to the Finance Ministry an indication that he is considered the likely heir to the leadership of the Social Democratic Party in the future.

He said the Prime Minister had decided to make sweeping changes to the distribution of ministerial portfolios, stressing that it was still too early to talk about such speculation.

Who will respond to the speculations?

Nikolai Vamen ruled out any political implications behind his move from the Ministry of Finance to the Ministry of Justice.

He said that the Social Democratic Party does not rely on such calculations when assessing the standing of its leaders, stressing that he was happy to take over the Justice portfolio just as he was happy to lead the Ministry of Finance.

Samira Nawa makes history as the first Danish minister from an ethnic background

The new Minister of Climate, Energy and Supply has entered Samira Nawa Samira Nawa made history as the first woman of immigrant origin in Denmark to hold a ministerial position.

Nawa said that this achievement is not a personal priority for her, but it holds great symbolic importance for the country's ethnic minorities.

She added: “If you ask people from diverse ethnic backgrounds in this country, a door has now been opened.”.

Lars Løkke Rasmussen expresses his satisfaction

Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen expressed his satisfaction with the ministerial share obtained by the Moderate Party in the new government.

He said he was experiencing the occasion differently this time as a grandfather, noting that his two grandsons were attending the government announcement ceremony.

He added that he was satisfied with the ministerial positions that went to his party within the new government.

Podskov maintains a strict immigration policy

The new Minister for Immigration and Integration, Morten Bødskov, has confirmed that Denmark’s immigration policy will remain firm and strict.

He said that opposition parties were welcome to criticize him, but stressed that the government would continue to work according to the current approach on immigration and integration issues.

In contrast, Pernille Vermund, the Liberal Alliance's spokesperson on immigration, criticized these statements, arguing that the government does not intend to address the challenges related to cultural conflicts, violence, and extremism at their roots.

Tesfaye chooses to distance himself from the government

Mattias Tesfaye revealed that he had personally requested not to join the new government.

He explained that he wanted to devote himself to working within the political leadership of the Social Democratic Party through his new position as head of the party's parliamentary group.

He added that he wants to work on broader political issues rather than focusing on a single ministerial portfolio.

Abolishing ministerial positions and changing the government structure

The new government saw the cancellation of a number of ministerial titles that existed in the previous government, including the Minister of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, the Minister of European Affairs, the Minister of the Tripartite Green Partnership, in addition to the position of Deputy Prime Minister.

The report emphasized that these changes do not necessarily mean the abolition of the same responsibilities, but rather their redistribution among the different ministries.

Political commentator: The influence of farmers is waning.

Political commentator Lawand Hiwa Namo believes that the disappearance of the post of Minister of Agriculture and Food carries a clear political message towards the agricultural sector.

He said the decision indicates that the new government no longer views the agricultural sector as the primary entity whose interests will be taken into account when formulating public policies.

He added: “The era of political dominance by farmers is over.”.

The handover ceremony of ministries begins

The new and outgoing ministers began implementing the official handover ceremonies in the various ministries, where a detailed timetable was prepared for handing over the keys, files and responsibilities between the former and new ministers in the Ministries of Defense, Finance, Justice, Health, Education, Environment, Transport and all other government ministries.

These measures marked the official start of the new government's work, which will lead Denmark during the next phase.