Founded in 2022 by Inger Støjberg after her impeachment case over separating asylum couples. National-conservative with strict immigration as the headline issue.
About the party
Danmarksdemokraterne was founded in 2022 by the controversial former immigration minister Inger Støjberg, the first Danish minister in 26 years to face an impeachment trial and be sentenced to prison. The party debuted at 8.1 per cent — the strongest debut by a right-wing party in the history of the Folketing — anchored in strict immigration policies, an anti-establishment profile, and a fight for Denmark's peripheral regions.
Historical milestones
2015–19Støjberg as immigration minister pushed through more than 50 tightenings of immigration law.
2021Impeachment trial and a 60-day unconditional prison sentence for an unlawful ministerial order.
2022Founded Danmarksdemokraterne and debuted at 8.1 per cent — a historically strong first election.
2024Won its first municipal mayor's seat and a seat in the European Parliament.
20265.8% and 10 seats at the election on 24 March.
Typical voter profile
Rural and peripheral-region voters who feel overlooked by the political centre. Strongest in Jutland and on Funen. At its debut the party attracted voters from both Venstre and Dansk Folkeparti.
Election history
202214 seats
202610 seats
Key policy areas
Core issue
Strict immigration policy
The party's absolute core issue. From day one, immigrants must work and contribute; criminals are to be deported; and repatriation is pursued whenever conditions allow.
High priority
A balanced Denmark
"Denmark is more than its biggest cities." Relocation of state jobs, better public transport, and access to doctors in peripheral regions.
Key issue
Productive Denmark
Respect for farming and small and medium-sized enterprises as Denmark's "economic backbone." Climate policy must not unnecessarily harm business.
Key issue
Welfare and elderly care
Preserving the Arne pension and improving nursing homes. Social-conservative rather than classically liberal: the welfare state must be maintained and strengthened.
Positions on policy topics
Wants to halt what it calls mass immigration and reinstate permanent border controls.
Sceptical of green levies that burden businesses and families. Unwilling to sacrifice agriculture and industry for rushed climate targets.
Defends the welfare state, particularly for the elderly and ordinary wage earners. Critical of tax cuts that benefit the highest earners.
Defends welfare for the elderly and "ordinary Danes" but is critical of benefits for recent arrivals.
EU-sceptic and wants to renegotiate Danish sovereignty. Wants to limit EU regulation that overrides Danish law.
Wants a harder line on crime, including lowering the age of criminal responsibility.
Wants to limit the concentration of non-Western residents in specific housing areas and supports the ghetto plans.
Wants Danish cultural education and shared national values at the centre rather than progressive educational experiments.
Wants a stronger effort on mental health and elderly care, and shorter waiting lists.
Clearly pro-NATO and strongly pro-Ukraine. Inger Stojberg is one of the most prominent NATO voices in parliament.
Wants to protect Danish businesses and jobs. Sceptical of EU regulation that burdens Danish enterprises.
Wants to protect Danish workers against social dumping and limit cheap foreign labour.
Strong focus on the elderly's conditions and more staff in home care.
Sceptical of excessive data collection and wants to ensure national control over critical digital infrastructure.
Key politicians
Challenges and criticism
Forholdet til Lars Løkke Rasmussens Moderater er spændt, og Støjberg har svært ved at forestille sig tæt samarbejde – hvilket kan blive et problem for den borgerlige blok.
Partiet er blevet kaldt et "populistisk protestparti" og har en usædvanlig partistruktur, hvor Støjberg personligt har udvalgt kandidaterne uden en traditionel demokratisk partiorganisation.
Sources
danmarksdemokraterne.dklex.dk – "Danmarksdemokraterne"faktalink.dk – "Danmarksdemokraterne"da.wikipedia.org