2019 European Parliament election in Denmark
{{short description|none}}
{{use dmy dates|date=May 2019}}
{{Infobox legislative election
| country = Denmark
| previous_election = 2014
| next_election = 2024
| seats_for_election = All 14 Danish seats in the European Parliament{{efn|Until Brexit took effect on 31 January 2020, there were 13 seats}}
| election_date = 26 May 2019
| turnout = 66.08% ({{increase}}9.76pp)
| leader1 = Morten Løkkegaard
| party1 = Venstre (Denmark)
| seats1 = 4
| percentage1 = 23.50
| last_election1 = 2
| leader2 = Jeppe Kofod
| party2 = Social Democrats (Denmark)
| seats2 = 3
| percentage2 = 21.48
| last_election2 = 3
| leader3 = Margrete Auken
| party3 = Socialist People's Party (Denmark)
| seats3 = 2
| percentage3 = 13.23
| last_election3 = 1
| leader4 = Morten Helveg Petersen
| party4 = Danish Social Liberal Party
| seats4 = 2
| percentage4 = 10.07
| last_election4 = 1
| leader5 = Peter Kofod
| party5 = Danish People's Party
| seats5 = 1
| percentage5 = 10.76
| last_election5 = 4
| leader6 = Pernille Weiss
| party6 = Conservative People's Party (Denmark)
| seats6 = 1
| percentage6 = 6.18
| last_election6 = 1
| leader7 = Nikolaj Villumsen
| party7 = Red–Green Alliance (Denmark)
| seats7 = 1
| percentage7 = 5.51
| last_election7 = new
| map = Europa-Parlamentsvalg 2019 - Opstillingskredse.svg
| map_size =
| map_caption = Largest party within each Folketing nomination district and constituency.
}}
The 2019 European Parliament election in Denmark was held on 26 May 2019, and elected the Danish members to the European Parliament. The elections are part of the EU-wide elections for the parliament. Denmark had 13 seats in parliament, which increased by one additional seat following Brexit.{{Cite news|url=https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/politik/ep-valg/28-svar-der-klaeder-dig-paa-til-valget-til-europa-parlamentet|title=28 svar, der klæder dig på til valget til Europa-Parlamentet|last=Thomsen|first=Per Bang|date=5 May 2019|work=DR|access-date=7 May 2019|language=da}}
Venstre won the election, becoming the biggest party and gaining two seats. The election was a disaster for the Danish People's Party, who lost three of their four seats. Both the Socialist People's Party and the Social Liberals won doubles their seats from one to two. The People's Movement against the EU lost the representation in the parliament they have had since 1979.
The election were held 10 days before general elections in Denmark.{{Cite news|url=https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/politik/ep-valg/ep-spidskandidater-uenige-er-folketingsvalgkamp-godt-eller-skidt-eu-debatten|title=EP-spidskandidater uenige: Er Folketingsvalgkamp godt eller skidt for EU-debatten?|last=Lindqvist|first=Andreas|date=7 May 2019|work=DR|access-date=7 May 2019|language=da}}
Background
In the 2014 European Parliament election, the Danish People's Party (DPP) became the largest party, gaining 4 seats overall, and the lead candidate, Morten Messerschmidt, received 465.758 individual votes, a new record.{{Cite news|url=https://www.europarl.europa.eu/denmark/da/nyheder-arrangementer/personlige-stemmer-til-europa-parlamentsvalget-2014|title=Personlige stemmer til Europa-Parlamentsvalget 2014|date=27 May 2014|work=European Parliament - Office in Denmark|access-date=7 May 2019|language=da}}
In October 2015, Rikke Karlson, another member of the DPP-group in the parliament, left the party due to lack of internal transparency into documents related to MELD and the associated foundation FELD. The following media attention revealed that MELD and DPP had misused EU funding, and Messerschmidt were forced to resign as leader of the parliamentary group. He was replaced by Anders Visitisen.{{Cite news|url=http://nyheder.tv2.dk/politik/2016-08-24-forstaa-sagen-om-meld-feld-karlsson-og-messerschmidt|title=Forstå sagen om Meld, Feld, Karlsson og Messerschmidt|last=Christensen|first=Esben|date=24 August 2016|work=TV2|access-date=7 May 2019|language=da}}
In December 2015, Jens Rohde, elected MEP as a member of Venstre, left the party due to discontent with the parties increasingly tougher policy on immigration, passed in cooperation with DPP. Rohde joined the Social Liberals instead.{{Cite news|url=https://politiken.dk/indland/politik/art5603330/Rohde-forlader-Venstre-i-protest-mod-partiets-asylpolitik|title=Rohde forlader Venstre i protest mod partiets asylpolitik|last=Skærbæk|first=Morten|date=19 December 2015|work=Politiken|access-date=16 May 2019|last2=Klarskov|first2=Kristian|language=da|last3=Gjertsen|first3=Marchen Neel|author-link3=Marchen Neel Gjertsen}} In February 2016, Ulla Tørnæs from Venstre left the parliament to become Minister for Science, Technology, Information and Higher Education. Morten Løkkegaard became the new Venstre MEP.{{Cite news|url=https://www.jv.dk/regionalt/Ulla-Toernaes-kaldes-hjem-til-ministerpost/artikel/2242354|title=Ulla Tørnæs kaldes hjem til ministerpost|last=Filtenborg|first=Emil|date=29 February 2016|work=JydskeVestkysten|access-date=16 May 2019|language=da}}
Parties contesting
All parties represented in the Folketing participate in the election, in addition to the People's Movement against the EU.{{Cite web|url=https://valg.oim.dk/media/22468/fortegnelse-over-opstillede-kandidatlister-partier-og-opstillede-kandidater-til-europa-parlamentsvalget-2019.pdf|title=FORTEGNELSE OVEROPSTILLEDE KANDIDATLISTER (PARTIER)OG OPSTILLEDE KANDIDATERTILEUROPA-PARLAMENTSVALGETDEN 26. maj 2019|last=Boeskov|first=Christine|date=29 April 2019|website=Økonomi-og Indenrigsministeriet|access-date=10 May 2019}} In previous elections, the Red-Green Alliance have declined to contest, but instead supported the People's Movement against the EU.{{Cite news|url=https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/politik/enhedslisten-stiller-selvstaendigt-op-til-naeste-eu-valg|title=Enhedslisten stiller selvstændigt op til næste EU-valg|last=Jeppesen|first=Issa|date=15 May 2019|work=DR|access-date=7 May 2019|language=da}} This is the first European Parliament election that The Alternative participate in.
class="wikitable"
|+Danish parties contesting the 2019 European Parliament election{{Cite web|url=https://www.dst.dk/valg/Valg1475795/valgopg/valgopgHL.htm|title=Resultater - Hele landet - Europa-Parlamentsvalg søndag 25. maj 2014|date=12 June 2014|website=Danmarks Statistik|access-date=10 May 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/search/advanced?countryCode=DK|title=Advanced search {{!}} Search {{!}} MEPs {{!}} European Parliament {{!}} Denmark|date=10 May 2019|website=European Parliament|access-date=10 May 2019}} !colspan=3|Party !Lead candidate ! colspan="2" |Last election !EP group{{Efn|As of the 8th European Parliament (2014–2019)|name=groups14-19|group=lower-alpha}} !Coalition |
bgcolor={{party color|Danish People's Party}}|
| O |26.61% |4 seats |ECR | - |
bgcolor={{party color|Social Democrats (Denmark)}}|
|A |19.12% |3 seats |S&D |A, F |
bgcolor={{party color|Venstre (Denmark)}}|
|V |16.68% |2 seats |ALDE |C, I, V |
bgcolor={{party color|Socialist People's Party (Denmark)}}|
|F |10.95% |1 seat |A, F |
bgcolor={{party color|Conservative People's Party (Denmark)}}|
|C |9.15% |1 seat |EPP |C, I, V |
bgcolor={{party color|People's Movement against the EU}}|
|N |People's Movement against the EU |8.07% |1 seat |N, Ø |
bgcolor={{party color|Danish Social Liberal Party}}|
|B |6.54% |1 seat |ALDE |B, Å |
bgcolor={{party color|Liberal Alliance (Denmark)}}|
|I |2.88% | - | |C, I, V |
bgcolor={{party color|Red-Green Alliance (Denmark)}}|
|Ø | colspan="2" |did not contest | |N, Ø |
bgcolor={{party color|The Alternative (Denmark)}}|
|Å | colspan="2" |did not contest | |B, Å |
The Alternative is contesting the election as a member of Democracy in Europe Movement 2025, a pan-European political movement who have a common political manifest.{{Cite news|url=https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/udland/rasmus-nordqvist-jeg-gaar-til-valg-som-europaeer-ikke-som-dansker|title=Rasmus Nordqvist: Jeg går til valg som europæer, ikke som dansker|last=Thomsen|first=Per Bang|date=18 March 2019|work=DR|access-date=16 May 2019|last2=Ryborg|first2=Ole|language=da}} In April 2019, DPP was among the founding members of the European Alliance of People and Nations, a new coalition who aim to create a broader nationalist group after the election.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-47854288|title=European nationalists form alliance for elections|date=8 April 2019|work=BBC|access-date=16 May 2019}} If elected, the Liberal Alliance wishes to join ALDE,{{Cite news|url=https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/udland/mette-bock-hvis-ikke-vi-faar-sat-den-rigtige-kurs-kan-eu-bryde-sammen|title=Mette Bock: Hvis ikke vi får sat den rigtige kurs, kan EU bryde sammen|last=Per Bang Thomsen|first=Per Bang|date=18 March 2019|work=DR|access-date=16 May 2019|last2=Ryborg|first2=Ole|language=da}} and the Red-Green Alliance wishes to join GUE/NGL.{{Cite news|url=http://nyheder.tv2.dk/politik/2019-04-30-nikolaj-villumsen-eu-er-udemokratisk-og-hoejreorienteret|title=Nikolaj Villumsen: EU er udemokratisk og højreorienteret|last=Josevski|first=Aleksandar|date=4 May 2019|work=TV2|access-date=15 May 2019|language=da}}
Results
{{For|more detailed results|Results of the 2019 European Parliament election in Denmark}}
Venstre became the biggest party in the election, taking 23.5% of the vote and four seats, of which one will be assigned to Denmark following Brexit. They were closely followed by the Social Democrats with 21.5% and three seats. The election was a "meltdown" for the Danish People's Party, who saw their support drop from 26.6% to 10.8%, and who lost three of the four seats they won in the last election.{{Cite news|url=https://politiken.dk/indland/art7222218/Dansk-Folkeparti-smelter-helt-sammen-Venstre-fordobler-sine-mandater|title=Alle stemmer talt op: Dansk Folkeparti smelter helt sammen - Venstre fordobler sine mandater|last=Guldagger|first=Mette|date=26 May 2019|work=Politiken|access-date=27 May 2019|language=da}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/politik/ep-valg/alle-stemmer-optalt-venstre-overrasker-med-kanonvalg-df-i-kaempe-nedtur|title=Alle stemmer optalt: Venstre overrasker med kanonvalg - DF i kæmpe nedtur|last=Toft|first=Emma|date=27 May 2019|work=DR|access-date=27 May 2019|language=da}}
Both the Socialist People's Party and the Social Liberals had a good election, and both parties saw their seats double from one to two. The latter due to their electoral alliance with The Alternative, who did not win a seat.{{Cite news|url=https://www.jv.dk/indland/Manglende-valgforbund-sender-mandat-fra-DF-til-De-Radikale/artikel/2720698|title=Manglende valgforbund sender mandat fra DF til De Radikale|date=26 May 2019|work=JydskeVestkysten|access-date=27 May 2019|agency=Ritzau|language=da}}
The Conservative People's Party managed to defend their single seat despite a smaller vote share compared to last election. The Conservative People's Party is the only Danish party that is a member of the EPP, the largest group in the European Parliament. Prior to the election, people warned that it might damage Danish interests if there were no longer any Danish parties represented in the EPP.{{Cite news|url=https://www.berlingske.dk/politik/lettelse-og-jubel-hos-de-konservative-sikrer-sig-mandat|title=Lettelse og jubel hos de Konservative: Sikrer sig mandat|last=Holst|first=Helene Kristine|date=26 May 2019|work=Berlingske|access-date=26 May 2019|language=da}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/politik/ep-valg/fagbevaegelsen-slaar-alarm-vi-skal-have-en-konservativ-stemme-i-eu|title=Fagbevægelsen slår alarm: Vi skal have en konservativ stemme i EU|last=Thomsen|first=Per Bang|date=18 May 2019|work=DR|access-date=27 May 2019|language=da}}
The People's Movement Against the EU lost their single seat, and for the first time since 1979, they are not represented in the parliament. The loss was widely regarded as caused by the Red-Green Alliance, who traditionally have supported the People's Movement, but decided to contest the election for the first time. The Red-Green Alliance won a single seat. Incumbent MEP Rina Ronja Kari reacted by saying that the movement would live on, and that "the EU-opposition is not dead".{{Cite news|url=http://nyheder.tv2.dk/politik/2019-05-26-enhedslisten-koster-folkebevaegelsen-pladsen-eu-modstanden-doer-ikke|title=Enhedslisten koster Folkebevægelsen pladsen: - EU-modstanden dør ikke|last=Nielsen|first=Morten|date=27 May 2019|work=TV2|access-date=27 May 2019|language=da}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.altinget.dk/artikel/enhedslisten-sender-folkebevaegelsen-paa-sidelinjen-det-er-droenhamrende-aergerligt|title=Enhedslisten sender Folkebevægelsen på sidelinjen: Det er drønhamrende ærgerligt|last=Arp|first=Andreas|date=27 May 2019|work=Altinget|access-date=27 May 2019|language=da}}
{{Election results
|party1=Venstre|votes1=648203|seats1=4|sc1=+2
|party2=Social Democrats|votes2=592645|seats2=3|sc2=0
|party3=Socialist People's Party|votes3=364895|seats3=2|sc3=+1
|party4=Danish People's Party|votes4=296978|seats4=1|sc4=–3
|party5=Danish Social Liberal Party|votes5=277929|seats5=2|sc5=+1
|party6=Conservative People's Party|votes6=170544|seats6=1|sc6=0
|party7=Red-Green Alliance|votes7=151903|seats7=1|sc7=New
|party8=People's Movement against the EU|votes8=102101|seats8=0|sc8=–1
|party9=The Alternative|votes9=92964|seats9=0|sc9=New
|party10=Liberal Alliance|votes10=60693|seats10=0|sc10=0
|invalid=41174
|electorate=4237550
|total_sc=+1
|source=[https://dst.dk/valg/Valg1684426/valgopg/valgopgHL.htm Danmarks Statistik]
}}
Voter turnout were 66%, the highest ever in a Danish European Parliament election. This was unexpected, as the campaign was largely overshadowed by the general election 10 days later.{{Cite news|url=https://jyllands-posten.dk/indland/ECE11399980/eksperter-folketingsvalg-sendte-eukandidaterne-ud-i-skyggen/|title=Eksperter: Folketingsvalg sendte EU-kandidaterne ud i skyggen|last=Kongstad|first=Jesper|date=25 May 2019|work=Jyllands-Posten|access-date=27 May 2019|language=da}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.berlingske.dk/politik/soendag-blev-der-skrevet-danmarkshistorie-da-millioner-stroemmede-til|title=Søndag blev der skrevet danmarkshistorie, da millioner strømmede til stemmeboksen|last=Thomsen|first=Peter|date=27 May 2019|work=Berlingske|access-date=27 May 2019|language=da}} A study by election scientist Kasper Møller Hansen showed that among first-time voters (18–23 years old), the turnout increased from 41,19 % in 2014 to 59,70 % in 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://cvap.polsci.ku.dk/publikationer/arbejdspapirer/valgdeltagelse_ev19.pdf|title=Valgdeltagelsen ved Europaparlamentsvalget 2019|last=Møller Hansen|first=Kasper|date=January 2020|website=University of Copenhagen|access-date=14 January 2020|archive-date=14 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200114111707/https://cvap.polsci.ku.dk/publikationer/arbejdspapirer/valgdeltagelse_ev19.pdf|url-status=dead}} Møller Hansen ascribed the increase to a general focus on climate change and Brexit, as well educational elections held at schools since 2015.{{Cite news|url=https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/politik/valgforsker-forbloeffet-over-ung-valgrekord-det-er-ret-unikt-og-hidtil-uset|title=Valgforsker forbløffet over ung valgrekord: 'Det er ret unikt og hidtil uset'|last=Pedersen|first=Daniel Myrup|date=14 January 2020|work=DR|access-date=14 January 2020|last2=Steffensen|first2=Mark|language=da}}
= Seat apportionment =
class="wikitable"
! colspan="7" |Main apportionment |
rowspan="2" |Letter
! rowspan="2" |Electoral alliance/party outside of electoral alliance ! rowspan="2" |Votes ! colspan="2" |Quotients ! colspan="2" |Seats |
---|
13 seats
!14 seats !13 seats !14 seats |
style="text-align:left;" |AF
| style="text-align:left;" |Social Democrats/Socialist People's Party | style="text-align:right;" |957,540 | style="text-align:right;" |5.32 | style="text-align:right;" |5.63 | style="text-align:right;" |5 | style="text-align:right;" |5 |
style="text-align:left;" |BÅ
| style="text-align:left;" |Danish Social Liberal Party/The Alternative | style="text-align:right;" |370,893 | style="text-align:right;" |2.06 | style="text-align:right;" |2.18 | style="text-align:right;" |2 | style="text-align:right;" |2 |
style="text-align:left;" |CIV
| style="text-align:left;" |Conservative People's Party/Liberal Alliance/Venstre | style="text-align:right;" |879,440 | style="text-align:right;" |4.89 | style="text-align:right;" |5.17 | style="text-align:right;" |4 | style="text-align:right;" |5 |
style="text-align:left;" |NØ
| style="text-align:left;" |People's Movement against the EU/Red–Green Alliance | style="text-align:right;" |254,004 | style="text-align:right;" |1.41 | style="text-align:right;" |1.49 | style="text-align:right;" |1 | style="text-align:right;" |1 |
style="text-align:left;" |O
| style="text-align:left;" |Danish People's Party | style="text-align:right;" |296,978 | style="text-align:right;" |1.65 | style="text-align:right;" |1.75 | style="text-align:right;" |1 | style="text-align:right;" |1 |
style="background-color:#E9E9E9"
| colspan="7" style="text-align:left;" |Divisor: 180,000 (13 seats)/170,000 (14 seats) |
class="wikitable"
! colspan="5" |Alliance 1 |
Letter
!Party !Votes !Quotients !Seats |
---|
style="text-align:left;" |A
| style="text-align:left;" |Social Democrats | style="text-align:right;" |592,645 | style="text-align:right;" |3.49 | style="text-align:right;" |3 |
style="text-align:left;" |F
| style="text-align:left;" |Socialist People's Party | style="text-align:right;" |364,895 | style="text-align:right;" |2.15 | style="text-align:right;" |2 |
style="background-color:#E9E9E9"
| colspan="5" style="text-align:left;" |Divisor: 170,000 |
class="wikitable"
! colspan="5" |Alliance 2 |
Letter
!Party !Votes !Quotients !Seats |
---|
style="text-align:left;" |B
| style="text-align:left;" |Danish Social Liberal Party | style="text-align:right;" |277,929 | style="text-align:right;" |2.78 | style="text-align:right;" |2 |
style="text-align:left;" |Å
| style="text-align:left;" |The Alternative | style="text-align:right;" |92,964 | style="text-align:right;" |0.93 | style="text-align:right;" |0 |
style="background-color:#E9E9E9"
| colspan="5" style="text-align:left;" |Divisor: 100,000 |
class="wikitable"
! colspan="7" |Alliance 3 |
rowspan="2" |Letter
! rowspan="2" |Party ! rowspan="2" |Votes ! colspan="2" |Quotients ! colspan="2" |Seats |
---|
4 seats
!5 seats !4 seats !5 seats |
style="text-align:left;" |C
| style="text-align:left;" |Conservative People's Party | style="text-align:right;" |170,544 | style="text-align:right;" |1.003 | style="text-align:right;" |1.14 | style="text-align:right;" |1 | style="text-align:right;" |1 |
style="text-align:left;" |I
| style="text-align:left;" |Liberal Alliance | style="text-align:right;" |60,693 | style="text-align:right;" |0.36 | style="text-align:right;" |0.40 | style="text-align:right;" |0 | style="text-align:right;" |0 |
style="text-align:left;" |V
| style="text-align:left;" |Venstre | style="text-align:right;" |648,203 | style="text-align:right;" |3.81 | style="text-align:right;" |4.32 | style="text-align:right;" |3 | style="text-align:right;" |4 |
style="background-color:#E9E9E9"
| colspan="7" style="text-align:left;" |Divisor: 170,000 (4 seats)/150,000 (5 seats) |
class="wikitable"
! colspan="5" |Alliance 4 |
Letter
!Party !Votes !Quotients !Seats |
---|
style="text-align:left;" |N
| style="text-align:left;" |People's Movement against the EU | style="text-align:right;" |102,101 | style="text-align:right;" |0.79 | style="text-align:right;" |0 |
style="text-align:left;" |Ø
| style="text-align:left;" |Red–Green Alliance | style="text-align:right;" |151,903 | style="text-align:right;" |1.17 | style="text-align:right;" |1 |
style="background-color:#E9E9E9"
| colspan="5" style="text-align:left;" |Divisor: 130,000 |
= Elected members =
The following candidates were elected to the European Parliament:{{Cite web|url=http://dst.dk/valg/Valg1684426/valgopg/valgopgHL.htm|title=Resultater - Hele landet - Europa-Parlamentsvalg søndag 26. maj 2019|date=27 May 2019|website=Danmarks Statistik|language=da|access-date=27 May 2019}}{{Cite news|url=http://dst.dk/valg/Valg1684426/kandstat/kandstat.htm|title=Valgte kandidater og stedfortrædere - Europa-Parlamentsvalg søndag 26. maj 2019|date=28 May 2019|work=Danmarks Statistik|access-date=28 May 2019|language=da}}
; Venstre
- Morten Løkkegaard (207,558 personal votes)
- Søren Gade (201,696 personal votes)
- Asger Christensen (31,347 personal votes)
- Following Brexit: Linea Søgaard-Lidell (24,153 personal votes)
; Social Democrats
- Jeppe Kofod (188,757 personal votes)
- Christel Schaldemose (65,179 personal votes)
- Niels Fuglsang (29,444 personal votes)
; Socialist People's Party
- Margrete Auken (199,522 personal votes)
- Kira Marie Peter-Hansen (15,765 personal votes){{Efn|The second seat of the Socialist People's Party was won by MP Karsten Hønge with 19,689 personal votes, but he choose to not take his seat, as he was also seeking reelection to the Folketing at the 5 June election.{{Cite news|url=http://nyheder.tv2.dk/politik/2019-05-27-karsten-hoenge-stemt-ind-men-takker-nej-til-europa-parlamentet|title=Karsten Hønge stemt ind, men takker nej til Europa-Parlamentet|last=Christensen|first=Maiken Brusgaard|date=27 May 2019|work=TV2|access-date=27 May 2019|language=da}}|name=|group=lower-alpha}}
; Social Liberals
- Morten Helveg Petersen (97,667 personal votes)
- Karen Melchior (17,292 personal votes)
; Danish People's Party
- Peter Kofod (119,408 personal votes)
; Conservative
- Pernille Weiss (80,140 personal votes)
; Red-Green Alliance
- Nikolaj Villumsen (50,567 personal votes)
On 27 June Jeppe Kofod was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Social Democratic government formed after the general elections held on 5 June, and thus did not take his seat. The appointment was a surprise as he had just been elected, but media speculated it was due to Henrik Sass Larsen not being available as a minister. Marianne Vind is to take his seat.{{Cite news|url=https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/politik/overrasket-kofod-afloeser-jeg-havde-ikke-forestillet-mig-andet-end-han-skulle|title=Overrasket Kofod-afløser: Jeg havde ikke forestillet mig andet, end han skulle fortsætte det vigtige arbejde i EU|last=Jensen|first=Thomas Klose|date=27 June 2019|work=DR|access-date=4 July 2019|language=da}}
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{European Parliament elections}}
{{Danish elections}}