Right-wing parties win in Denmark

Anti-Inmigration Danish People's Party comes second and centre-right coalition will be able to form a new government. 

BBC · COPENHAGEN · 19 JUNE 2015 · 16:23 CET

Counting the votes in Denmark's national election.  / Reuters,eleciont, denmark, votes
Counting the votes in Denmark's national election. / Reuters

Denmark's opposition parties have beaten the governing coalition after a close general election. The centre-right group led by ex-PM Lars Lokke Rasmussen beat Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt's centre-left coalition, although her party is the largest.

Ms Thorning-Schmidt has now stood down as Social Democratic Party leader.

The right-wing, anti-immigration Danish People's Party will become the second-largest in parliament.

With almost all votes counted, the centre-right bloc led by Mr Rasmussen had secured the 90 seats needed to form a government in the 179-seat parliament.

Turnout was 85.8%, the interior ministry said.

Talks are due to begin soon on forming a cabinet, which correspondents say could take weeks.

Mr Rasmussen wrote on Facebook that "difficult negotiations lie ahead".

Published in: Evangelical Focus - europe - Right-wing parties win in Denmark