Calls within the Social Democratic Party for Mette Frederiksen to step down and for a change in leadership.

According to DR, several municipal council members belonging to the Social Democratic Party (Socialdemokratiet) have spoken publicly for the first time in ten years about the need for Danish Prime Minister and party leader Mette Frederiksen to step down from leading the party, following the party's poor performance in the recent municipal elections.

Voices from within the party are calling for change.

A large number of municipal council members across Denmark said that Mette Frederiksen should step down as party leader, otherwise the party's defeat in the municipal elections would be repeated in the next parliamentary elections.

Jan D. Andersen, a member of the Skive municipal council who was not re-elected in the last election, said:
“We need to get a new president; that’s the only solution I see if we want to win the parliamentary elections. We really have to start all over again.”

In the Norddjurs district, councillor Tom Bytoft decided not to run for re-election after 28 years on the council, and called on Frederiksen to resign, saying:
“The first thing Mette Frederiksen should do is resign and step down. This will most likely lead to new parliamentary elections, and I think that would be good so that we can find a new Social Democrat to lead the country.”
“We cannot remain in this government after the results we have obtained,” Baitoft added. “The citizens have made it very clear that they no longer trust the current version of the Social Democratic Party that they know.”
According to DR, these statements reflect the depth of the internal crisis the party is experiencing after the elections.

An internal poll revealed a clear division within the party.

A new survey conducted by DR among the party's current municipal council members revealed that 41 members believe Mette Frederiksen is not the right person to lead the party into the next parliamentary elections, while 130 members responded that they still see her as the right leader, while 62 declined to answer or did not express an opinion.

The report stated that out of 729 members, 233 participated in this survey, and it showed that 99 of the participants believed that Frederiksen's influence on the municipal election results was negative, while 24 saw her influence as positive, and 70 considered it neutral.

DR added that these demands came in the wake of the party's decline in 87 out of 98 municipalities, the loss of 18 mayoral positions, and its nationwide drop to 23.2% of votes, its lowest level of popular support since 1970.

Mette Frederiksen herself acknowledged the poor results, saying last week before the party's parliamentary group meeting:
“It is true that we have regressed, but we made progress in the last parliamentary elections. I have no plans to resign.”
According to DR, these statements sparked widespread controversy within the party between those who support her staying and those who call for her departure.

DR explained the survey methodology details

The channel explained that the survey was sent via email to 729 members of the party's municipal councils. Of these, 229 answered all the questions, and 17 answered partially. This means that approximately one-third of the council members participated in the survey, including those who were elected and those who were not re-elected or did not run for re-election.

Party members accused Frederiksen of losing trust and credibility.

Svendborg municipal council member Flemming Madsen said that Mette Fredriksen had lost the people's trust:
“Credibility is lost, and people no longer believe her. She has become a burden because she has lost the public’s trust. I don’t think we can regain our strength while she is at the head of the party.”

Høje-Taastrup member Nina Strøm Tønnes, who was re-elected, said:
“I think Mette did a good job, but my position is based entirely on what people are saying in the streets. Many have told us: As long as Mette is president, we will not vote for you. She has become a point of contention for many.”
She added: “We need to find a new party leader. The voters determine the fate of the party, and if we didn’t have voters, we wouldn’t have a party at all.”
According to DR, these statements clearly reflect a decline in public confidence in the party leadership.

Internal calls for leadership renewal before the elections

Flemming Gjelstrup, a member from Tønder, said the party needed a fresh start:
“She has done her duty, and it is time for new people. I do not currently see who will succeed her, but renewal is necessary. Do not write that she should leave tomorrow, but she should step down before the elections.”

Calls have emerged for the nomination of new, young faces.

Former Frederikshavn member Tina Nymann said the party needed a new face:
“I think we need a new scene. We should look to the young woman in Holbæk, Christina Krzyrosiak Hansen, who was the biggest winner in the election in terms of personal vote percentage. She speaks respectfully, listens, and unites the ranks.”
Newman added: “People are angry at Mete as a person, not at the party’s policies. If we don’t change the leadership, we will face the same defeat we saw in the municipal elections.”
According to DR, this trend represents a clear call for a rejuvenation of the party.

Several members criticized the current government's policies.

Member Tommy Frøslev from Halsnæs said that Mette Frederiksen had managed the coronavirus crisis and the war in Ukraine well, but he criticized her entering into a coalition government with the Venstre party and the Moderates, arguing that this had led to a rightward shift in policies such as reforming subsidies and abolishing the Great Day of Prayer.

Verslev added: “The ordinary citizen has been forgotten in current politics. It would take a major overhaul from Mette to change course, and I don’t think she can do that. No one is above the party.”
He indicated that the Minister for Children and Education, Mattias Tesfaye, might be a suitable candidate to succeed Frederiksen.
According to DR, these remarks represent a broad echo within the party about its leadership's deviation from traditional social values.

Other potential names have been put forward for the party leadership.

Former Horsens member Anders Bruun Rasmussen said Frederiksen needs a fresh start:
“There are many jobs that suit her, but I agree with the opposition on some of its criticisms. When you take responsibility, you must admit mistakes, whether it’s the mink issue or the cancellation of the big prayer day.”
He added that Nicolai Wammen would be a good choice, describing him as a “balanced politician and a good professional.”

Ishøj member Erkan Yapici said it was time for Fredriksen to leave:
“She has done her job well, but she must hand over the reins. I fear we will suffer a crushing defeat in the next election if no change occurs.”
He added: “The gap between the rich and the poor has widened, and her rhetoric has sometimes become harsh. I hope she realizes for herself that it is time for her to leave for the good of the party.”
He explained that he did not have a specific suggestion for her successor, saying: “When the process begins, competent people with leadership qualities will emerge.”
According to DR, these views demonstrate a growing number of voices calling for a smooth transition in party leadership before the next election.

The party leadership responded to the internal criticisms

The party's political spokesman, Christian Rabjerg Madsen, said that Mette Frederiksen was still the right leader, denying the need for any change in leadership:
“We have a competent president and prime minister who previously faced disappointing numbers and then achieved great success in the last parliamentary elections, which were the best in decades.”

Madsen noted that the survey included more than 700 municipal council members, and that only 41 wanted a change in leadership, adding:
“It is true that we were not satisfied with the results of the municipal elections, and perhaps these figures reflect a state of frustration. But it should be noted that only 5% of the participants hold this opinion.”

When asked about the 18% of survey participants wanting to replace Frederiksen, Madsen said:
“I maintain that only 5.5% of those surveyed have this position, and I disagree with them.”
According to DR, this response reflects the party leadership's commitment to Mette Frederiksen despite the growing dissenting voices within the rank and file.