A majority in the Danish Parliament (Folketinget), excluding the Social Democrats (Socialdemokratiet), is prepared to amend the country’s electoral law to eliminate advantages currently enjoyed by larger parties. The move follows academic criticism of a rule that in the 2022 general election awarded the Social Democrats an extra seat they were not proportionally entitled to.
Cross-party agreement to reform vote allocation rules
Parties across the political spectrum – including the governing Venstre and Moderates (Moderaterne), the Socialist People’s Party (SF), the Alternative (Alternativet), the Red-Green Alliance (Enhedslisten), and the Liberal Alliance – have expressed support for reform. The Danish Democrats (Danmarksdemokraterne) and the Danish People’s Party (Dansk Folkeparti) have now joined them, creating a clear parliamentary majority for change without the Social Democrats’ backing.
The current rules, according to election researcher Jørgen Elklit and colleagues, can result in large parties receiving extra mandates beyond their proportional share of the vote. In 2022, this discrepancy caused confusion on election night, when public broadcasters TV 2 and DR published different projections.
The rule that gave Social Democrats an extra seat
The provision under scrutiny relates to how compensatory mandates are distributed in Denmark’s proportional representation system. The 2022 election saw the Social Democrats gain one more seat than their vote count strictly justified. This outcome, though rare, has raised concerns about fairness and transparency in the electoral process.
Academic analysis suggests that the issue stems from a specific allocation formula, which in certain scenarios can skew results in favour of larger parties. Reform proponents argue that adjustments are necessary to ensure equal representation for all parties, regardless of size.
Legislative change possible without government consensus
While electoral law reforms in Denmark typically seek broad political agreement, the present coalition of parties is sufficient to pass amendments without the largest party’s consent. If implemented, the reform could take effect before the next general election, altering the dynamics of parliamentary seat distribution.
Social Democrats have so far not signalled willingness to support the change, but the growing consensus among other parties indicates that legislative action is increasingly likely.
If the reform passes, it could prevent similar seat allocation disputes in future elections and strengthen public trust in Denmark’s democratic institutions. While the practical impact on party standings may be modest, the symbolic effect of ensuring strict proportionality could be significant, especially in a political culture that values consensus and transparency.
