Social Democrats (Denmark)

Social Democrats
LeaderMette Frederiksen
Founded15 October 1871; 153 years ago
HeadquartersVester Voldgade 96 1552, Copenhagen
IdeologySocial democracy
Political positionCentre-left
European affiliationParty of European Socialists
European Parliament groupProgressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats
Colors  Red
Folketing
50 / 179
European Parliament
3 / 15
Election symbol
Website
socialdemokratiet.dk

The Social Democrats (Danish: Socialdemokratiet) is a social-democratic[1] political party in Denmark.

The Social Democrats are the largest party in the Folketing and have been in government since 2019.[2] Since 2015, the party has been led by Mette Frederiksen, who has also served as prime minister since 2019.[3]

History

The party was founded in 1871 by Louis Pio (who served as its first leader) and first entered the Folketing in 1882. The party first formed a government in 1924 under Thorvald Stauning, who as prime minister was very important in helping to establish the Danish welfare state.[4]

Political leadership

Leaders of the Social Democrats

  • Louis Pio (1871–1872, 1875–1877)
  • Carl Würtz (1872–1873)
  • Ernst Wilhelm Klein (1873–1875)
  • Christen Hørdum (1877–1878, 1880–1882)
  • A.C. Meyer (1878)
  • Saxo W. Wiegell (1878–1880)
  • Peter Christian Knudsen (1882–1910)
  • Thorvald Stauning (1910–1939)
  • Hans Hedtoft (1939–1955)
  • H.C. Hansen (1955–1960)
  • Viggo Kampmann (1960–1962)
  • Jens Otto Krag (1962–1972)
  • Anker Jørgensen (1972–1987)
  • Svend Auken (1987–1992)
  • Poul Nyrup Rasmussen (1992–2002)
  • Mogens Lykketoft (2002–2005)
  • Helle Thorning-Schmidt (2005–2015)
  • Mette Frederiksen (2015–present)

Prime Ministers

References

  1. "Partiet". www.socialdemokratiet.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 2025-07-22.
  2. "Members in each Party Group". The Danish Parliament. Retrieved 2025-07-22.
  3. "Partiets historie | Læs om Socialdemokratiets historie". www.socialdemokratiet.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 2025-07-22.
  4. "Partiets historie | Læs om Socialdemokratiets historie". www.socialdemokratiet.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 2025-07-22.