Founded in 1995 and once the second-largest party in Denmark. Since 2019 it has lost voters sharply and is fighting for survival.
About the party
Dansk Folkeparti (the Danish People's Party) was founded in 1995 by defectors from the Progress Party and has since fundamentally reshaped Danish politics by making immigration the dominant political issue. The party peaked at 21.1 per cent in 2015. After historic setbacks in 2019 and 2022, it made a strong comeback at the 24 March 2026 election with 9.1 per cent and 16 seats.
Historical milestones
1995Founded by Pia Kjaersgaard and three others as breakaways from the Progress Party.
2001Became the parliamentary support party for the VK governments and the driving force behind historic immigration restrictions.
2015Historic peak: 21.1 per cent and 37 seats — Denmark's second-largest party.
2022Historic low: 2.6 per cent and 5 seats. Morten Messerschmidt took over the leadership.
20269.1% and 16 seats — a strong comeback under Morten Messerschmidt.
Typical voter profile
Older voters, unskilled workers, and the lower middle class in provincial towns. "Yellow Denmark" — municipalities far from the major cities, with a strong national-cultural identity.
Election history
201916 seats
20225 seats
202616 seats
Key policy areas
Core issue
Strict immigration policy
The party's absolute core identity. No to non-Western immigration, asylum seekers processed in third countries, and sharp restrictions on granting citizenship. Dansk Folkeparti has left an indelible mark on Danish law.
Core issue
Welfare for Danes
Dansk Folkeparti stands apart from the right-of-centre bloc with strong welfare support — but reserved for Danish citizens. Better nursing homes, combating age discrimination, and a fair pension.
High priority
EU scepticism
The long-term goal is a Danish exit from the EU. Dansk Folkeparti sits in the EP group Patriots for Europe alongside Hungary's Fidesz and Austria's FPO. "Less EU, more Denmark."
Key issue
Justice policy
Harsher sentences, a strengthened police force, and deportation of criminal foreigners are classic Dansk Folkeparti issues.
Key issue
Animal welfare
Unusually for the right-of-centre bloc, Dansk Folkeparti makes animal welfare a prominent issue: better conditions for farm animals and an end to poor livestock transport.
Positions on policy topics
Wants to halt all non-Western immigration and repatriate those who have not integrated.
Wants to preserve Danish agriculture and opposes climate levies that weaken competitiveness.
Supports the welfare state but is sceptical of tax cuts that primarily benefit high earners.
Elderly care is a core issue. Wants significantly more staff and better staffing ratios.
EU-sceptic and wants to keep Denmark out of further integration. Wants a Danish veto on key EU decisions.
Wants significantly higher sentences, particularly for gang and violent crime, and more officers on the streets.
Wants to combat parallel societies and ensure Danish housing policy serves Danish citizens' interests.
Wants Danish cultural education and core academic skills at the centre of the school system.
Wants to prioritise mental health and elderly care and tackle long waiting lists.
Pro-NATO and wants a strong national defence with a focus on Danish sovereignty and border surveillance.
Wants to protect Danish business and Danish jobs from unfair competition and EU regulation.
Wants to protect Danish labour against social dumping and limit competition from low-wage countries.
Core issue. Wants significantly better staffing ratios, more staff and a tax freeze for pensioners.
Concerned about the power of tech giants and wants to ensure national control over digital platforms.
Key politicians
Challenges and criticism
Både udlændingepolitikken og velfærdsprofilen er i vid udstrækning overtaget af andre partier – Danmarksdemokraterne, Socialdemokratiet og til dels De Konservative – hvilket gør det svært at finde et unikt politisk rum.
Skandalesager om EU-midler og interne uenigheder svækkede partiets troværdighed markant i perioden 2017–2022.
Sources
danskfolkeparti.dkdanmarkshistorien.lex.dkfaktalink.dk – "Dansk Folkeparti"da.wikipedia.org