Far left. Campaigns for a 30-hour working week, steep climate action and a much more equal society.
About the party
Enhedslisten (the Red-Green Alliance) is Denmark's most left-wing parliamentary party, founded in 1989 as an electoral alliance of the Communist Party (DKP), the Left Socialists (VS), and the Socialist Workers' Party (SAP). It is unique for its collective leadership with no single chairperson and its principled defence of the public sector and equality. Under Pelle Dragsted's political spokesmanship since 2023, the party seeks to balance a principled far-left identity with real parliamentary influence.
Historical milestones
1989Founded as an electoral alliance of DKP, VS, and SAP — a united red-green alternative.
1994Entered the Folketing for the first time with 3.1 per cent and 6 seats.
2015Historic peak: 7.8 per cent and 14 seats.
2024Internal crisis: expulsion of the Rodt Venstre (Red Left) faction at an extraordinary congress.
Typical voter profile
Young, well-educated, and politically engaged left-wing voters. Strongest in major cities, particularly in Vesterbro, Norrebro, and university towns.
Election history
2026 projection based on DR/Epinion polls
201514 seats
201913 seats
20229 seats
2026~14 seats(proj.)
Key policy areas
Core issue
Equality and redistribution
Capital and share income taxed at the same rate as wages. A millionaire's tax, higher corporate taxes, and a crackdown on multinationals' tax-avoidance schemes.
Core issue
Profit-free welfare
No to privatisation: hospitals, daycare, and elderly care must be publicly run. No public funding for private profit-making companies in welfare.
High priority
Climate and nature
"The red-greens." Ambitious CO2 reductions faster than planned, a pesticide ban, and strong nature conservation with reduced industrial farming.
Key issue
Gender equality
Real equality — not just formal rights. Fighting patriarchal structures, defending LGBTQ+ rights, and promoting diversity.
Positions on policy topics
Wants to close deportation centres, abolish the paradigm shift and strengthen the Refugee Appeals Board.
Wants to keep fossil fuels in the ground and demands a climate-just transition that does not hit low-income groups.
Wants to introduce a significantly more progressive tax and limit large private fortunes. Views the tax system as a central tool against inequality.
Wants massive investment in the public sector and to roll back privatisations.
Critical of the EU from the left. Wants to democratise the union and reject militarisation.
Wants to replace imprisonment with social solutions and decriminalise possession of drugs for personal use.
Wants a rent freeze, stronger tenant rights and a halt to private speculators raising rents.
Wants to ensure free and universal access to all education and restore the level of the state study grant.
Wants massive investment in the public health service and opposes privatisations that create inequality.
Critical of military build-up. Wants diplomatic solutions and is sceptical of increased NATO commitments.
Wants to limit profit maximisation and demands strong social and environmental requirements of businesses.
Wants to introduce a 30-hour working week and fights for strong union organisation and a significantly higher minimum wage.
Wants massive investment in public elderly care, higher pay for staff and a halt to privatisation.
Wants democratic control of AI and strong data protection. Sceptical of the power of tech giants.
Key politicians
Challenges and criticism
Den interne krise med Rødt Venstre-fraktionen illustrerer den vedvarende spænding mellem at fastholde principfast venstrefløjsidentitet og opnå reel parlamentarisk indflydelse.
Forsvarsdebatten efter Ukraine-krigen har tvunget partiet til at revidere sin historiske NATO-kritik og sikkerhedspolitiske linje, hvilket har udfordret dele af baglandet.
Sources
enhedslisten.dklex.dk – "Enhedslisten"faktalink.dk – "Enhedslisten"da.wikipedia.org