Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has received an unusual gift to mark her 10-year anniversary as leader of the Social Democrats (Socialdemokratiet): a donkey.
The gift was presented during a celebration in Valby, Copenhagen, ahead of the formal anniversary date on 28 June. Frederiksen is expected to attend a NATO meeting on that day, prompting her party to organise an early reception.
A symbolic and personalised present
According to party secretary Lasse Ryberg, the idea came after colleagues learned that Frederiksen had recently bought a farm on the island of Møn, south of Zealand, and was considering adding more animals, including a donkey. “It’s more fun than a set of porcelain or a collection of books,” Ryberg told the Danish press.
Rather than the animal itself, Frederiksen was presented with a gift certificate allowing her to select the donkey herself. Ryberg confirmed the prime minister appeared genuinely surprised and pleased by the gesture.
Guests from across the political and cultural spectrum
The reception drew a wide range of guests, including current and former ministers, political leaders from other parties, and public figures. Notable attendees included Pia Olsen Dyhr, leader of the Socialist People’s Party (SF); Pelle Dragsted, political spokesperson for the Red-Green Alliance (Enhedslisten); and Pernille Rosenkrantz-Theil, former minister and current mayoral candidate in Copenhagen.
Several members of Frederiksen’s cabinet were present, including Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard, Finance Minister Nicolai Wammen, and Employment Minister Ane Halsboe-Jørgensen. The event also attracted well-known personalities from Danish media and culture, such as singer Anne Linnet, TV doctor Peter Qvortrup Geisling, and presenter Pelle Hvenegaard.
A decade of leadership
Frederiksen became leader of the Social Democrats in June 2015, succeeding Helle Thorning-Schmidt. She later became Denmark’s youngest-ever prime minister in 2019 and continues to lead a centre-left coalition government.
The donkey gift, while unusual, underlines the blend of personal affection and political symbolism that marked the event, reflecting Frederiksen’s image as a pragmatic leader with a down-to-earth profile.
