Jared Paolino
July 7th, 2022

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If PM Mette Frederiksen cedes to Radikale’s demands for an election, the parties will be ready with campaign posters (photo: Leif Jørgensen)

In the US, after a victory in the Super Bowl, World Series or other major sporting event, fans are often eager to get their hands on the winning team’s merchandise. To meet this demand, manufacturers and retailers produce and stock two sets of hats, t-shirts, and other memorabilia declaring each team the winner.

Today in Denmark, political parties are similarly getting ready, without even knowing if the game is happening.

Since Radikale urged PM Mette Frederiksen to call parliamentary elections five days ago, the printing company Gripsign has received thousands of election poster orders from all major parties, the company’s head, Steffen Fløe, told CPH POST.

“Everyone wants to book now and have their campaign ready. Lately it was Tour de France, and now this. We have been working like maniacs for the past year!”

Radikale demands election by October 4
Radikale’s demand for an early election came in the wake of the Mink Commission’s statement, which harshly criticised the prime minister for ordering the culling of 17 million mink without legal authority.

Sofie Carsten Nielsen, the chair of Radikale, has said the prime minster should call an election as soon as possible, and by October 4 at the latest. If not, said Nielsen, her party will call for a vote of no confidence.

“New air and new oxygen are needed for Christiansborg,” Nielsen told DR. “And the voters must be allowed to participate in the debate about, and ultimately tick, those they want to lead the country in the future after an election.”

Unclear if PM will meet demands
As election posters are being printed, however, political commentators have disagreed as to whether the prime minister will bow to Radikale’s demands.

Noa Reddington, pundit and former Socialdemokratiet advisor, has said that Frederiksen has no choice.

“We are now in the situation that we know there must be parliamentary elections. It will be a choice that will be about perfection of power. It will be an election that will be about how to govern Denmark,” said Reddington, according to TV2.

Peter Morgenesen disagrees.

“I am absolutely certain that the Social Democrats will go to great lengths not to go the way the Radikales point,” the economist and political commentator told TV2.

“An election in the wake of the mink case would appear to suggest the government’s handling of the matter has been something of a Ragnarok. This is not the best basis for an election.”