In a new opinion poll conducted by Epinion for Altinget and DR, it has emerged that Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen (S) is now the least popular minister in the current government. From being one of the most popular political figures during the COVID-19 pandemic, where she was almost seen as infallible, her popularity has now taken a drastic dive. Back in late 2022, when the current government was formed, Frederiksen had a popularity score of 11 percent. This score has now dropped to a shocking minus 18 percent. This significant decline in popularity can be seen as a direct consequence of a series of political decisions and scandals that have characterized the government’s first year and a half in power.
Kasper Møller Hansen, professor and election researcher at the University of Copenhagen, explains that the former ‘rally around the flag’ effect that Frederiksen experienced during the COVID-19 crisis has completely disappeared. “The COVID-19 period was a special time when we all supported the fight against an external enemy. That effect is no longer present,” he told B.T. According to Møller Hansen, there is a wearing down of Frederiksen due to the government’s general unpopularity and a series of poorly received political initiatives, including the abolition of Great Prayer Day.
“It is a government that has lost support faster than any other in Danish history, and it has undoubtedly had a negative impact on Frederiksen’s popularity,” he explains. Epinion, the polling company behind the survey, conducts a monthly study of Danes’ attitudes towards the government’s 23 ministers. Minister of Education Mattias Tesfaye (S) tops the latest poll with a popularity score of 14 percent, which stands in sharp contrast to Frederiksen’s score. This decline in popularity could have serious consequences for Frederiksen and the overall government if the trend continues. This is a development that will be closely monitored by both political analysts and the voters themselves leading up to the next parliamentary election.