Prime Minister of Denmark facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids Prime Minister of Denmark
State Flag of Denmark
Coat of arms of Denmark
Incumbent Mette Frederiksen since 27 June 2019
Executive branch of the Danish Government Ministry of the State
Style	His/her Excellency (diplomatic, outside Denmark)
Member of	Council of State Cabinet European Council
Residence	Marienborg
Seat	Christiansborg, Copenhagen, Denmark
Appointer	The Monarch Based on Appointee's ability to gain majority support in the Folketing
Term length	No fixed term
Precursor	Privy Councillor
Formation	22 March 1848; 177 years ago (22 March 1848)
First holder	Adam Wilhelm Moltke
Succession	by the 2nd highest ranking Privy counsellor
Deputy	Permanent secretary to the prime minister
Salary	1,458,000 DKK (€195,900) annually

The prime minister of Denmark (Danish: Danmarks statsminister) is the main leader of the government in Denmark. This role also covers Greenland and the Faroe Islands, which are part of the Kingdom of Denmark.

Before this modern job existed, the king or queen was the main ruler. They held all the power. But in 1849, a new Constitution was made. This changed Denmark into a constitutional monarchy. This means the monarch's power became limited. The new Constitution also created the job of prime minister. The first person to hold this important role was Adam Wilhelm Moltke.

The prime minister leads a group of ministers called the cabinet. The monarch formally appoints these ministers. However, the prime minister is chosen based on how much support they have in the Folketing. The Folketing is Denmark's national parliament.

Since the early 1900s, no single political party has won enough votes to have a majority in the Folketing. Because of this, the prime minister usually leads a group of different political parties working together. This group is called a coalition government.

The current prime minister of Denmark is Mette Frederiksen. She has been in office since June 27, 2019. Her government includes members from the Social Democrats, Venstre, and the Moderates parties.

History of the Prime Minister's Role
- Early Leaders and New Beginnings
- The Modern Prime Minister's Office
The Prime Minister's Role and Powers
Prime Minister's Residences and Offices
List of prime ministers
See also

History of the Prime Minister's Role

Early Leaders and New Beginnings

From about 1699 to 1848, there were important government officials called "Grand Chancellor" or "Minister of State." These titles were similar to a prime minister. However, these officials were not the true heads of government. The king was the absolute ruler until a new constitution was introduced.

The job of prime minister officially began with the constitutional monarchy in 1848. This was made official when the Danish Constitution was signed on June 5, 1849. This new Constitution set up a parliamentary system. It created a new parliament called the Rigsdagen. It also formed a Council Presidium, led by a council president. This Council Presidium was the first version of what is now the Prime Minister's Office.

Adam Wilhelm Moltke became the first council president on March 22, 1848. He and the next two leaders also used the title "premierminister," which means "prime minister." From 1855, the prime minister was simply known as the "council president."

The Modern Prime Minister's Office

The modern Prime Minister's Office was officially created on January 1, 1914. Before this, the Council Presidium was an informal group. In 1918, the prime minister's title changed again to "Minister of State." This is the title still used today, similar to Norway and Sweden.

By the mid-1800s, strong political parties had formed. Most prime ministers were leaders of either the left-leaning Venstre party or the right-leaning Højre party. By 1924, the Social Democrats became the largest party.

During World War II, Denmark was occupied. The government resigned in 1943 because it refused to give in to Nazi Germany. However, the king never officially accepted their resignation. So, the government technically existed until a new one was formed in 1945.

The 1900s were mostly led by Social Democratic prime ministers. They were in power almost continuously from 1924 until 1982. In 1982, Poul Schlüter became the first prime minister from the Conservative People's Party. He led a large center-right government. This government lasted for eleven years, which was the longest center-right government since the 1920s.

In 2001, the left-wing government lost power to a right-wing group led by Venstre. Venstre became the largest party since 1924. Anders Fogh Rasmussen was prime minister from 2001 to 2009. He led a coalition with the Conservative People's Party. In 2009, he resigned to become the head of NATO. Lars Løkke Rasmussen then became prime minister.

After the 2011 election, the center-left group won. Helle Thorning-Schmidt became prime minister in October 2011. She formed a government with the Social Democrats, the Danish Social Liberal Party, and the Socialist People's Party. After losing the 2015 election, she resigned. Lars Løkke Rasmussen became prime minister again, leading a government made only of Venstre members.

The Social Democrats returned to power after the 2019 election. Mette Frederiksen then became the prime minister.

The Prime Minister's Role and Powers

Monarch's Role and PM's Authority

The Constitution of Denmark says that the monarch (the head of state) has the highest power. They use this power through their ministers. However, the monarch's role today is mostly symbolic. The monarch formally appoints and removes ministers, including the prime minister. But any action by the monarch needs a minister's signature to be valid. This means the prime minister actually has the power to appoint ministers, not the monarch.

Even though the prime minister is the country's top politician, they are not as powerful as some other prime ministers in Europe. This is because it is very hard for one party to win a majority of seats in the Folketing (Parliament). So, the government is almost always a coalition of parties or a minority government. No Danish party has won a majority since 1901. Because of their limited powers, the prime minister is seen as "first among equals." This means they are the leader, but they must work closely with other ministers.

Forming a Government

The monarch formally appoints all ministers. But in reality, the monarch only chooses the prime minister after a leader has gained enough support from the Folketing. This has been the custom since 1920. This rule was even added to the Constitution in 1953. It means the monarch cannot appoint a prime minister who is likely to be voted out by the parliament.

Since no party has had a majority for over a hundred years, parties form alliances. After an election, if there is no clear leader, the monarch holds a "king/queen's meeting." During these meetings, the leader of the largest alliance is chosen as the prime minister-elect. This new prime minister-elect then works with other party leaders to choose ministers. Together, they form a new coalition government. This government can start its work without a special vote of confidence. It can stay in office as long as it does not lose a vote of no confidence.

Prime Minister's Office and Responsibilities

The prime minister leads the weekly meetings of the cabinet. They also decide what topics will be discussed at these meetings. The prime minister traditionally leads a government department called the "Ministry of the State of Denmark." This is also known as the Prime Minister's Office. Its main job is to support the prime minister.

The prime minister can choose to dissolve the Folketing and call a new election. This must happen within four years of the last election. However, the prime minister does not have direct control over Denmark's self-governing regions, the Faroe Islands and Greenland. Laws passed by their local parliaments must be approved by the Folketing.

There are ways to check the prime minister's power. If the Folketing no longer trusts the prime minister, the prime minister must resign with the entire cabinet or call a new election. If a prime minister resigns or leaves office, the monarch asks them to continue as a temporary government. This temporary government stays in place until a new leader is chosen.

Prime Minister's Residences and Offices

The main government offices, including the Prime Minister's Office, are located inside Christiansborg Palace. This palace also houses the Folketing (Parliament) and the courts.

The prime minister's official summer home is Marienborg. This is an old estate from the 1700s. It is located near Lake Bagsværd, about 15 kilometers north of Copenhagen. Marienborg has been used as a summer residence for prime ministers since 1960. It is often used for government meetings and informal discussions.