View source for Folketing

{{short description|Unicameral legislature of Denmark}}
{{use dmy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Infobox legislature
 | name              = Parliament of Denmark
 | native_name       = {{Native name|da|Folketinget}}
 | coa_pic           = 2018 Seal of the Folketing of Denmark.svg
 | coa_res           =260px
 | legislature       = [[List of members of the Folketing, 2022–present|72nd Folketing]]
 | house_type        = [[Unicameral]]
 | leader1_type      = [[List of Speakers of the Folketing|Speaker]]
 | leader1           = [[Søren Gade]]
 | party1            = {{Lang|da|[[Venstre (Denmark)|Venstre]]|italic=no}}
 | election1         = 16 November 2022
 |leader2=[[Leif Lahn Jensen]]|leader2_type=Deputy Speakers |leader3=[[Karina Adsbøl]]|leader4=[[Karsten Hønge]]|leader5=[[Lars-Christian Brask]]|leader3_type= |leader4_type= |leader5_type= |party2=[[Social Democrats (Denmark)|Social Democrats]]|party3=[[Denmark Democrats]]|party4=[[Green Left (Denmark)|Green Left]]|party5=[[Liberal Alliance (Denmark)|Liberal Alliance]]
 | members           = 179
 | structure1        = File:Folketing vers.svg
 | structure1_res    = 250px
 | structure1_alt    = Current Structure of the Folketing
 | political_groups1 =
'''[[Frederiksen II Cabinet|Government]] (85)'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Danmark får ny regering: "Det betyder ikke, vi er enige om alt" |url=https://www.altinget.dk/artikel/danmark-har-faaet-ny-regering |access-date=2022-12-13 |website=Altinget.dk |date=13 December 2022 |language=da-DK}}</ref>
: {{Color box|{{party color|Social Democrats (Denmark)}}|border=darkgray}} [[Social Democrats (Denmark)|Social Democrats]] (50)
: {{Color box|{{party color|Venstre (Denmark)}}|border=darkgray}} {{Lang|da|[[Venstre (Denmark)|Venstre]]|italic=no}} (23)
: {{Color box|{{party color|Moderates (Denmark)}}|border=darkgray}} [[Moderates (Denmark)|Moderates]] (12)
'''[[Confidence and supply|Supported by]] (5)'''{{efn|name="SVM c&s"|MPs grouping with the government parties for the purposes of committee seats.}}
: {{Color box|{{party color|Union Party (Faroe Islands)}}|border=darkgray}} [[Union Party (Faroe Islands)|Union Party]] ([[Anna Falkenberg|1]]){{efn|name="FaroeParty"|[[Faroe Islands|Faroese]] political party represented in the Danish parliament.}}
: {{nowrap|{{Color box|{{party color|Social Democratic Party (Faroe Islands)}}|border=darkgray}} [[Social Democratic Party (Faroe Islands)|Social Democratic Party]] ([[Sjúrður Skaale|1]]){{efn|name="FaroeParty"}}}}
: {{Color box|{{party color|Inuit Ataqatigiit}}|border=darkgray}} [[Inuit Ataqatigiit]] ([[Aaja Chemnitz Larsen|1]]){{efn|name="GreenlandParty"}}<ref>{{Cite web|first=Henrik |last=Hoffmann-Hansen |title=Alle nordatlantiske folketingsmedlemmer støtter regeringen |url=https://www.kristeligt-dagblad.dk/danmark/alle-nordatlantiske-folketingsmedlemmer-stoetter-regeringen |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=Kristeligt Dagblad |language=da}}</ref>
: {{Color box|{{party color|Naleraq}}|border=darkgray}} [[Naleraq]] ([[Aki-Matilda Høegh-Dam|1]]){{efn|name="GreenlandParty"|[[Greenland|Greenlandic]] political party represented in the Danish parliament.}}
: {{Color box|{{party color|Independent politician}}|border=darkgray}} [[Independent politician|Independent]] ([[Jon Stephensen|1]])<ref>{{Cite web |last=Høj |first=Olivia |last2=Pabst |first2=Mette |date=25 August 2023 |title=Efter undren fra Løkke: Jon Stephensen forsvarer, at han beholder sit mandat |url=https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/politik/efter-undren-fra-loekke-jon-stephensen-forsvarer-han-beholder-sit-mandat |website=dr.dk |quote=Jon Stephensen siger, at han vil stemme med SVM-regeringen langt hen ad vejen, men han vil ikke love, at han vil stemme med regeringen hver gang.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Astrup |first=Peter |date=2023-11-20 |title=Regeringen har sikret flertallet: Har lavet aftale med Jon Stephensen |url=https://www.bt.dk/content/item/1725445 |access-date=2023-11-20 |website=www.bt.dk |language=da}}</ref>
'''[[Opposition (politics)|Opposition]] (89)'''
: {{Color box|{{party color|Denmark Democrats}}|border=darkgray}} [[Denmark Democrats]] (16)
: {{Color box|{{party color|Green Left (Denmark)}}|border=darkgray}} [[Green Left (Denmark)|Green Left]] (15)
: {{Color box|{{party color|Liberal Alliance (Denmark)}}|border=darkgray}} [[Liberal Alliance (Denmark)|Liberal Alliance]] (15)
: {{Color box|{{party color|Conservative People's Party (Denmark)}}|border=darkgray}} [[Conservative People's Party (Denmark)|The Conservatives]] (10)
: {{Color box|{{party color|Red–Green Alliance (Denmark)}}|border=darkgray}} [[Red–Green Alliance (Denmark)|Red–Green Alliance]] (9)
: {{Color box|{{party color|Danish People's Party}}|border=darkgray}} [[Danish People's Party]] (7)
: {{Color box|{{party color|Danish Social Liberal Party}}|border=darkgray}} [[Danish Social Liberal Party|Social Liberals]] (6)
: {{Color box|{{party color|The Alternative (Denmark)}}|border=darkgray}} [[The Alternative (Denmark)|Alternative]] (6)
: {{Color box|{{Party color|Citizens' Party (Denmark)}}|border=darkgray}} [[Citizens' Party (Denmark)|Citizens' Party]] (1)
: {{Color box|{{party color|Independent politician}}|border=darkgray}} Independent (4){{Efn|
* [[Theresa Scavenius]]
* [[Peter Seier Christensen]]
* [[Mike Fonseca]]
* [[Jeppe Søe]]|name=independents}}
 | voting_system1 = [[Open list|Open]] [[Party-list proportional representation|list]] [[proportional representation]] through the [[D'Hondt method]] (for constituency seats) and [[Sainte-Laguë method]] (for leveling seats) with a 2% [[electoral threshold|election threshold]] in constituencies<br />{{small|See [[Elections in Denmark]]}}
 | last_election1 = [[2022 Danish general election|1 November 2022]]
 | next_election1 = [[Next Danish general election|On or before 31 October 2026]]
 | session_room   = Folketingssalen 2018a.jpg
 | meeting_place  = Folketingssalen, [[Christiansborg Palace]], Copenhagen
 | website        = {{Official URL}}}}
{{Politics of Denmark}}

The '''Folketing''' ({{langx|da|Folketinget}} {{IPA|da|ˈfʌlkəˌtsʰe̝ŋˀð̩|}}, {{Literal translation|The people's [[Thing (assembly)|thing]]|People's assembly}}), also known as the '''Parliament of Denmark''' or the '''Danish Parliament''' in English,<ref>{{cite web|title=About the Danish Parliament|url=http://www.thedanishparliament.dk/About_the_Danish_Parliament.aspx|website=thedanishparliament.dk|publisher=The Danish Parliament|access-date=23 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150825003755/http://www.thedanishparliament.dk/About_the_Danish_Parliament.aspx|archive-date=25 August 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> is the [[unicameral]] [[List of legislatures by country|national legislature]] ([[parliament]]) of the [[Danish Realm|Kingdom of Denmark]] — [[Denmark]] proper together with the [[Faroe Islands]] and [[Greenland]]. Established in 1849, the Folketing was the [[lower house]] of the [[bicameralism|bicameral]] parliament called the [[Rigsdagen|Rigsdag]] until 1953; the [[upper house]] was the [[Landstinget (Denmark)|Landsting]]. 

The Folketing meets in [[Christiansborg Palace]], on the islet of [[Slotsholmen]] in central [[Copenhagen]]. It passes all laws, approves the [[Cabinet of Denmark|cabinet]], and supervises the work of the government. It is also responsible for adopting the state's budgets and approving the state's accounts. As set out in the [[Constitution of Denmark]], the Folketing shares power with the reigning [[Monarchy of Denmark|monarch]]. But in practice, the monarch's role is limited to signing laws passed by the legislature; this must be done within 30 days of adoption.

The Folketing consists of [[List of members of the parliament of Denmark|179 members]]; including two from [[Greenland]] and two from the [[Faroe Islands]]. [[Elections in Denmark|General elections]] must be held every four years, but it is within the powers of the [[Prime Minister of Denmark|prime minister]] to ask the monarch to call for an election before the term has elapsed. On a [[Motion of no confidence|vote of no confidence]], the Folketing may force a single minister or the entire government to resign.<ref>"A Minister shall not remain in office after the Parliament has passed a vote of no confidence in him." [http://www.servat.unibe.ch/icl/da00000_.html The Constitution of Denmark – Section 15.]</ref>

Members are democratically elected by [[proportional representation]]: 135 directly in [[Constituencies in Denmark|constituencies]] using the [[D'Hondt method]], alongside 40 [[leveling seats]]. The Danish political system has traditionally generated coalitions. Most post-war governments have been minority coalitions ruling with the support of non-government parties.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.berlingske.dk/radikale-ved-historisk-skillevej|title=Radikale ved historisk skillevej|work=[[Berlingske Tidende]]|date=17 June 2007|access-date=17 August 2007}}</ref> The first sitting of the house is usually attended by [[Monarchy of Denmark|the king]].<ref>{{cite web|title=The Danish Parliament opens on 6 October|url=https://www.thedanishparliament.dk/en/news/2015/09/2015_eng_opening|website=thedanishparliament.dk|publisher=Folketinget (The Danish Parliament)|access-date=13 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160428165231/http://www.thedanishparliament.dk/News/2015/09/Opening.aspx|archive-date=28 April 2016}}</ref>

==History==
From 1849 to 1953, the ''Folketing'' was one of the two houses in the [[bicameral]] parliament known as the ''[[Rigsdag]]''; the other house was known as ''[[Landsting (Denmark)|Landstinget]]''. The difference between the houses was its size, voter representation, and electoral system.

The Folketing was elected by common vote among men and consisted mainly of independent farmers, traders, and merchants as well as the educated classes. From 1866 to 1915, the right to vote for the [[Landsting (Denmark)|Landsting]] was restricted to the wealthiest, and some of its members were appointed by the king; so it predominantly represented the landed gentry and other conservatives.{{cn|date=August 2025}} From 1915, both men and women had the right of vote for both houses, and the Landsting was elected by common vote, although indirectly and with a higher age limit than for the Folketing. During the next decades, law-making mainly took place in the Folketing, and the Landsting came to be regarded as a superfluous rubber stamp.{{cn|date=August 2025}}

[[File:Danish parlement in Copenhagen.JPG|thumb|left|[[Christiansborg Palace]], the location of the Folketing chamber since 1849]]
In 1953 a revised constitution was adopted by [[1953 Danish constitutional and electoral age referendum|a referendum]]. Among the changes was the elimination of the Landsting and the introduction of a [[unicameral]] parliament, known only as the Folketing. [[Christiansborg Palace]] (also known by its nickname ''[[Christiansborg Palace|Borgen]]'', Danish for ''the castle'') has been the domicile of parliament since 1849. The palace is in the heart of [[Copenhagen]].{{Citation needed|date=June 2024}}

Gaining representation in parliament normally requires only 2% of the national vote. With such a low [[Electoral threshold|election threshold]] a large number of parties are represented in the chamber, making it all but impossible for one party to win the 90 seats necessary for a majority.{{cn|date=August 2025}} No single party has achieved this since 1901.{{cn|date=August 2025}} All Danish governments since then have been coalitions or one-party [[Minority government|minority governments]]. The constitution allows a government to take office without getting a vote of confidence and stay in office as long as it does not lose a [[vote of no confidence]].{{cn|date=August 2025}} One consequence is that, unlike in most other parliamentary systems, most Danish governments in modern times are not assured that their legislative agendas will pass, forcing them to assemble a majority for each individual piece of legislation.{{cn|date=August 2025}}

==Constitutional requirements and electoral system==
{{Wikisource|Constitutional Act of Denmark, 5 June 1953}}
;Composition of members
* The Folketing consists of 179 members all elected for a four-year term or until the [[Prime Minister of Denmark|prime minister]] (via the King-in-council) calls for elections, whichever comes first. 175 members are elected in Denmark proper, while [[Greenland (Folketing constituency)|Greenland]] and the [[Faroe Islands (Folketing constituency)|Faroe Islands]] each elect two members in separate constituencies.
* The constitution does not mention political parties at all, although the electoral act does, and MPs are almost always elected for a party. The only independent who has been elected in modern times is the comedian [[Jacob Haugaard]], but independents, usually unknown ones, are seen at every election. Requirements for standing as an independent candidate are much more lenient than for a new party (signatures from 150 eligible voters), but independents are only allowed to contest in a single constituency, making it difficult to gain the needed number of votes for a seat.
;Voting system
* The Constitution requires "equal representation of the various opinions of the electorate", and for regional representation to be secured. The electoral act stipulates the details for this: 135 seats are elected by proportional representation in 10 constituencies, and 40 [[leveling seat|levelling seat]]s are allotted to make up for the difference between constituency and nationwide vote. The 135 district seats are distributed to the parties by the [[D'Hondt method]] under a [[Party-list proportional representation|party-list system]]. The 40 levelling seats are allocated to the parties using the [[largest remainder method]], and then distributed across electoral provinces with the [[Sainte-Laguë method]] and across constituencies with quotients of 1, 4, 7, and so on. Each party may choose among a number of methods for how the seats won by that party are to be distributed among its candidates, with most choosing to use an [[open list]].<ref>[http://valg.ism.dk/valgsystem/Documents/opgoer-FTV.pdf]{{dead link|date=October 2017|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}} {{in lang|da}}</ref>
* The overall result is [[proportional representation|proportional]] to the number of votes cast for each party; however, in rare cases, the largest parties may gain one or two seats extra from smaller parties.
* The voter may vote for a party list, one of the candidates on a party list, or an independent candidate. Voting for a candidate on a party list also gives a vote to that party.
* Parties (usually district party associations) decide on the nomination of candidates before the election. When an [[open list]] is used, candidates are elected according to personal votes (including assigned votes). When a [[Open list|relatively closed list]] is used, only an extreme number of personal votes can change the rank of the list order.
* Parties must either pass the [[Election threshold|threshold]] of 2% of the national vote, or gain a constituency seat to gain any [[leveling seat|supplemental seat]]s. Though very rare, it is possible for a party to gain a constituency seat without getting 2% of the national vote. There is also an esoteric third rule that allows a party to be represented, if it has enough votes in two of the three electoral provinces that the country is divided into. No party has ever fulfilled this rule without getting 2% of the national vote.
* To stand for election, parties that are not currently represented in Parliament must collect signatures of support from approximately 20,000 voters (the number of valid votes cast in Denmark proper at the latest election, divided by 175—the equivalent of one seat; after the [[2019 Danish general election|2019 election]] the required number is 20,195). As of 2016, it is possible to submit and collect signatures digitally.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Sørensen |first1=Iben |last2=Winther |first2=Bent |date=2016-01-12 |title=Vælgererklæringer bliver digitale |url=https://www.berlingske.dk/content/item/102316 |access-date=2022-08-03 |website=Berlingske.dk |language=da}}</ref>
;Voter requirements
* Denmark has [[universal suffrage]] for all citizens 18 years and older who live in the realm and who have not been declared incapable of managing their own affairs. The constitution makes it possible to restrict suffrage for convicted criminals and people receiving social benefits, but this option has not been used for several decades.
* All voters who have not been convicted of criminal acts that makes them unworthy for a seat in the parliament, are eligible. Parliament decides if a member is eligible or not (after their election). Parliament can also decide that an incumbent member is ineligible, if a member is convicted of a crime during a term. This happened after the [[Impeachment of Inger Støjberg]] in 2021.
[[File:Bertel Haarder i forbindelse med graensehindringsdebat i Folketinget.jpg|thumb|right|[[Bertel Haarder]] ([[Venstre (Denmark)|V]]) making a speech]]
[[File:Graensehindringsdebat i Folketinget.jpg|thumb|right|View from the gallery]]
;Parliamentary privileges
* Members enjoy [[Parliamentary immunity|immunity]], meaning that no criminal charges may be brought against an MP, unless they are caught red-handed, provided the Folketing does not lift the immunity. The purpose of this is to prevent political persecution. In practice the Folketing has almost always lifted the immunity when a member has been accused of a crime, usually with the consent of the accused member themself.<ref>{{Cite news |url= http://www.dr.dk/nyheder/politik/fakta-om-ophaevelse-af-parlamentarisk-immunitet |trans-title= Facts about lifting parliamentary immunity|title=Fakta om ophævelse af parlamentarisk immunitet|publisher=[[DR (broadcaster)|DR]]|access-date=2017-08-08|date=2003-05-23|language=da}}</ref>
* Debates can be conducted behind closed doors, although this has not happened since 9 April 1940, day of the German invasion in World War II.
;Ministers
* Ministers may hold a seat in parliament, but they do not need to. [[Supreme Court of Denmark|Supreme Court]] judges—according to convention—may not hold a seat whilst also acting as judges.
* Ministers may—even if they are not MPs—demand talking time whenever they want.
;Legislating
* Bills may be brought before parliament by members ([[private member's bill]]s) and ministers. Bills are predominantly brought before parliament by ministers, because they have the Law Office of the [[Ministry of Justice (Denmark)|Ministry of Justice]] at their disposal. Instead of putting forward a private bill, the opposition usually put forward a proposal for parliamentary decision, i.e., a short resolution that addresses the subject and directs the relevant minister to propose a bill concerning it.

==Forming a parliament==
{{Main|Member of the Folketing}}
The 179 members of the folketing are directly elected to four-year terms, subject to calls for early elections. All Danish citizens 18 years or older may vote in legislative elections, which are conducted by secret ballot.
Folketing seats are allocated among the various parties using the [[D'Hondt method]] of party list [[proportional representation]]. A party or electoral alliance must pass the election threshold of 2% of the overall vote to be allocated a seat.

===Coalition governments===
{{Update|section|date=April 2016}}
The Danish political system is characterised by a [[fusion of powers]], with the government being drawn from the ranks of the Folketing. Denmark is governed by a cabinet and a prime minister who do not have a majority in the Folketing against them (negative parliamentarism).<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-01-09 |title=Parlamentarisme / Folketinget |url=https://www.ft.dk/da/leksikon/Parlamentarisme |access-date=2023-02-16 |website=Folketinget |language=da |quote=En regering må ikke have et flertal imod sig.}}</ref> Since no single party in Denmark has had an absolute majority in the Folketing since 1903, in order to pass laws, the prime minister must form alliances with parties outside his or her own party. This either results in a [[coalition government|coalition]] cabinet of multiple parties, or a single-party minority government.

During his first term in 2009 to 2011, [[Lars Løkke Rasmussen]] led a centre-right minority government consisting of the Liberal Party ({{Lang|da|[[Venstre (Denmark)|Venstre]]|italic=no}}) and the [[Conservative People's Party (Denmark)|Conservative People's Party]]. This coalition government worked with regular parliamentary support from the [[national conservatism|national conservative]] [[Danish People's Party]] and often gained the necessary 90th seat for majority in the Folketing through negotiations with either the sole MP from the [[Christian Democrats (Denmark)|Christian Democrats]], Ørum-Jørgensen<ref>{{cite web |url=http://politiken.dk/politik/ECE1030119/kristendemokraterne-vil-med-i-finansloven/ |title=Kristendemokraterne vil med i finansloven |language=da |website=Politiken.dk |date=26 July 2011 |access-date=16 September 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111040936/http://politiken.dk/politik/ECE1030119/kristendemokraterne-vil-med-i-finansloven/ |archive-date=11 January 2012 }}</ref> or another MP outside parties, Christmas Møller, both elected in 2007 as conservative MPs and having defected since then.

Since the [[2007 Danish parliamentary election|2007 elections]], the [[Liberal Alliance (Denmark)|Liberal Alliance]] (previously Ny Alliance) gained momentum in opinion polls, and since early 2010 the governing coalition have not been able to gather a majority in the polls without the support of the Alliance. The continuing rise in the polls is to an extent the result of the internal crisis in the Conservative People's Party over the leadership of [[Lene Espersen]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.berlingske.dk/politik/lene-espersens-krise-smitter-af-paa-loekke |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120722102458/http://www.berlingske.dk/politik/lene-espersens-krise-smitter-af-paa-loekke |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 July 2012 |title=Lene Espersens krise smitter af på Løkke – Politiko {{pipe}} www.b.dk |publisher=Berlingske.dk |access-date=16 September 2011 }}</ref> and the continuing debate over a lack of "true" liberal/conservative ideology in government policy.<ref>{{cite web |author=Af Uffe Tang og Christian Brøndum |url=http://www.berlingske.dk/politik/liberal-alliance-redder-regeringen |title=Liberal Alliance redder regeringen – Politiko {{pipe}} www.b.dk |publisher=Berlingske.dk |access-date=16 September 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101225022046/http://www.berlingske.dk/politik/liberal-alliance-redder-regeringen |archive-date=25 December 2010 }}</ref>

On 13 January 2011 the continuing turmoil in the Conservative group in the Folketing caused Lene Espersen to resign as political leader of the party and focus on her role as [[Minister of Foreign Affairs]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Af Lene Frøslev |url=http://www.berlingske.dk/politik/det-er-den-rigtige-beslutning |title="Det er den rigtige beslutning" – Politiko {{pipe}} www.b.dk |date=13 January 2011 |publisher=Berlingske.dk |access-date=16 September 2011}}</ref> A leadership election between [[Brian Mikkelsen]], the [[Ministry of Economic and Business Affairs (Denmark)|Minister of Economic and Business Affairs]] and [[Lars Barfoed]], the [[Justice Minister of Denmark|Justice Minister]], was widely expected,<ref>{{cite web |author=Af Morten Henriksen og Chris Kjær Jessen |url=http://www.berlingske.dk/politik/baade-barfoed-og-brian-vil-afloese-lene |title=Både Barfoed og Brian vil afløse Lene – Politiko {{pipe}} www.b.dk |publisher=Berlingske.dk |access-date=16 September 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110116192321/http://www.berlingske.dk/politik/baade-barfoed-og-brian-vil-afloese-lene |archive-date=16 January 2011 }}</ref> but on 14 January the Conservative group in the Folketing unanimously elected Barfoed as their new political leader.<ref>{{cite web|author=Af Louise Lyck Dreehsen |url=http://www.berlingske.dk/politik/barfoed-ny-k-leder |title=Barfoed taler til pressen – Politiko {{pipe}} www.b.dk |date=14 January 2011 |publisher=Berlingske.dk |access-date=16 September 2011}}</ref>

The [[Social Democrats (Denmark)|Social Democrats]] under the leadership of [[Helle Thorning-Schmidt]] have enjoyed continuing majorities in opinion polls since late 2009 and hope to form a centre-left government coalition consisting of the [[Socialist People's Party (Denmark)|Socialist People's Party]] and the [[Danish Social Liberal Party|Social Liberal Party]] with parliamentary support from the small [[Red-Green Alliance (Denmark)|Red-Green Alliance]].<ref>{{cite web|date= 13 June 2010|url=http://www.bt.dk/politik/roed-dominans |title=Rød dominans – Politik |publisher=BT.dk |access-date=16 September 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dr.dk/Nyheder/Politik/2010/12/02/232622.htm |title=Greens: Markant rødt flertal – dr.dk/Nyheder/Politik |date=2 December 2010 |publisher=Dr.dk |access-date=16 September 2011}}</ref>

Both [[Margrethe Vestager]] (Social Liberal Party) and [[Villy Søvndal]] (Socialist People's Party) pledged their support to Thorning-Schmidt before the 2011 election.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://borsen.dk/nyheder/politik/artikel/1/143035/vestager_peger_paa_helle_thorning.html |title=Vestager peger på Helle Thorning |publisher=Borsen.dk |date=20 October 2008 |access-date=16 September 2011 |archive-date=19 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719124012/http://borsen.dk/nyheder/politik/artikel/1/143035/vestager_peger_paa_helle_thorning.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> But there has been considerable debate about the future politics of this coalition, mainly because the Social Liberal Party demands a more [[economic liberalism|liberal economic]] agenda. Also on immigration issues there are political differences between the three coalition parties. This has led some observers to believe that the Social Liberal Party will not join a government coalition but instead opt to be a part of the parliamentary support of a new, centre-left government.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dr.dk/Nyheder/Politik/2010/08/19/150632.htm?rss=true |title=Radikale med i regering – hvis ... – dr.dk/Nyheder/Politik |publisher=Dr.dk |date=19 August 2010 |access-date=16 September 2011}}</ref> In the event the Social Liberals did join the new three-party coalition government formed on 3 October.

Following the [[2015 Danish general election|2015 general election]], Thorning-Schmidt was replaced as prime minister by her predecessor Lars Løkke Rasmussen. Until 28 November 2016,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dw.com/en/denmark-pm-strikes-deal-to-form-new-government/a-36543082|title=Denmark PM strikes deal to form new government|publisher=Deutsche Welle|access-date=13 February 2017}}</ref> he led a government consisting only of Venstre—a very unusual situation in Danish politics.

== Organisation ==

=== Speaker ===
{{Main|List of Speakers of the Folketing}}
The Speaker is the [[speaker (politics)|presiding officer]] of the Folketing. The Speaker determines which members may speak, and is responsible for maintaining order during debates. The position was created in 1850, and the inaugural holder of the office was [[Carl Christoffer Georg Andræ]]. The current Speaker is [[Søren Gade]] of {{Lang|da|[[Venstre (Denmark)|Venstre]]|italic=no}}.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nu er Søren Gade valgt som Folketingets formand {{!}} Nyheder |url=https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/seneste/nu-er-soeren-gade-valgt-som-folketingets-formand |access-date=2022-11-16 |website=DR |date=16 November 2022 |language=da-DK}}</ref> The Speaker and four Deputy Speakers are elected by MPs at the opening of parliament after each general election and compose presidium of the body.<ref name="Speaker">{{cite web|url=http://www.thedanishparliament.dk/About_the_Danish_Parliament/The_Speaker.aspx|title=The Speaker|website=Thedanishparliament.dk|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150825203727/http://www.thedanishparliament.dk/About_the_Danish_Parliament/The_Speaker.aspx|archive-date=25 August 2015|url-status=dead|access-date=23 August 2015}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Position
!Member
!Party
|-
|President
|{{sortname|Søren|Gade}}
|{{Lang|da|[[Venstre (Denmark)|Venstre]]|italic=no}}
|-
|First Deputy Speaker
|{{sortname|Leif|Lahn Jensen}}
|[[Social Democrats (Denmark)|Social Democrats]]
|-
|Second Deputy Speaker
|{{sortname|Jeppe|Søe}}
|[[Moderates (Denmark)|Moderates]]
|-
|Third Deputy Speaker
|{{sortname|Karsten|Hønge}}
|[[Green Left (Denmark)|Green Left]]
|-
|Fourth Deputy Speaker
|{{sortname|Karina |Adsbøl}}
|[[Denmark Democrats]]
|}

=== Standing committees ===
{{Main|Parliamentary committees in the Folketing}}
The members of parliament are allocated into [[Parliamentary committees in the Folketing|thirty standing parliamentary committees]]. The standing committees have a portfolio that covers that of one or more [[Council of State (Denmark)|government ministers]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-01-31 |title=About the parliamentary committees |url=https://www.thedanishparliament.dk/en/committees/about-the-committees |access-date=2023-12-11 |website=The Danish Parliament |language=en}}</ref>

==Composition==
[[File:Christiansborg and election posters.jpg|thumb|[[Christiansborg Palace]], the seat of the three branches of government: the Folketing, the [[Prime Minister of Denmark|Prime Minister's Office]] and the [[Supreme Court of Denmark|Supreme Court]]. Here it is surrounded by posters, a typical scene during an election season.]]

===Demographics===
Although Denmark is a [[representative democracy]], a bias is seen in the demographics of the Folketing as opposed to the [[demographics of Denmark]], with middle-aged men over-represented, the Folketing is therefore not a direct representation of the country.

About one-third of seats have been switched for new members every election, a figure that has stayed more or less constant over previous elections. The largest change in these figures was seen in the election of 1973, where 45 percent of seats saw new members, and the lowest change was in the election of 1988, when 14.8 percent of members were newcomers.<ref>
{{cite book |last= |first= |author-link= |date=16 June 2022 |title=Folketinget (book) |url= |location=Denmark |publisher=Gyldendal |page=179 |isbn=978-87-02-26493-7}}</ref>

Since the [[Women's suffrage|incorporation of women]] into the Folketing in 1915, a general rise in the seats held by women has been observed. In the most recent election in 2022, 78 of 179 seats were held by women.

{| class="wikitable sortable collapsible" border="1"
|+ Sortable and collapsible table
|-
! scope="col" | Election year
! scope="col" |Female members<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tal og fakta om Folketinget / Folketinget |date=24 November 2016 |url=https://www.ft.dk/da/folkestyret/folketinget/tal-og-fakta-om-folketinget |access-date=29 May 2023 |language=Danish}}</ref>
! scope="col" | Percent change
!Percentage of Folketing
|-
|[[1957 Danish general election|1957]] || 15 || -
|8,4%
|-
|[[1960 Danish general election|1960]] || 17 || style="color: green" | +13.3%
|9,5%
|-
|[[1964 Danish general election|1964]] || 17 || +0.0%
|9,5%
|-
|[[1966 Danish general election|1966]] || 19 || style="color: green" |+11.8%
|10,6%
|-
|[[1968 Danish general election|1968]] || 19 ||+0.0%
|10,6%
|-
|[[1971 Danish general election|1971]]|| 30 || style="color: green" | +57.9%
|16,8%
|-
|[[1973 Danish general election|1973]] || 27 || style="color: red" |  −10.0%
|15,1%
|-
|[[1975 Danish general election|1975]] || 28 || style="color: green" | +3.7%
|15,6%
|-
|[[1977 Danish general election|1977]] || 30 || style="color: green" | +7.1%
|16,8%
|-
|[[1979 Danish general election|1979]] || 42 || style="color: green" | +40.0%
|23,5%
|-
|[[1981 Danish general election|1981]] || 42 || +0.0%
|23,5%
|-
|[[1984 Danish general election|1984]] || 47 || style="color: green" | +11.9%
|26,3%
|-
|[[1987 Danish general election|1987]] || 52 || style="color: green" | +10.6%
|29,1%
|-
|[[1988 Danish general election|1988]] || 52 || 0.0%
|29,1%
|-
|[[1990 Danish general election|1990]] || 59 || style="color: green" | +13.5%
|33,0%
|-
|[[1994 Danish general election|1994]] || 59 || +0.0%
|33,0%
|-
|[[1998 Danish general election|1998]] || 67 || style="color: green" | +13.6%
|37,4%
|-
|[[2001 Danish general election|2001]] || 68 || style="color: green" | +1.5%
|38,0%
|-
|[[2005 Danish general election|2005]] || 66 || style="color: red" |  −2.9%
|36,9%
|-
|[[2007 Danish general election|2007]] || 67 || style="color: green" | +1.5%
|37,4%
|-
|[[2011 Danish general election|2011]] || 70 || style="color: green" | +4.5%
|39,1%
|-
|[[2015 Danish general election|2015]] || 67 || style="color: red" | −4.3%
|37,4%
|-
|[[2019 Danish general election|2019]] || 70 || style="color: green" | +4.5%
|39,1%
|-
|[[2022 Danish general election|2022]] || 78 || style="color: green" | +11.4%
|43,6%
|}

===Historical composition===
{{See also||Elections in Denmark}}
Between 1918 and 1920 the Folketing had 140 seats, this was then increased to 149. The number was increased to 179 in 1953, which it remains to this day.

[[File:Folketing historical composition.png|1000px|Representation per party between 1918 and 2019]]

===Current composition===

{{See also||List of members of the Folketing, 2022–present}}
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="3" rowspan="2" |Name
! rowspan="2" |Ideologies
! rowspan="2" |Leader
! colspan="2" |2022 result
! rowspan="2" |Current
seats
|-
!Votes (%)
!Seats
|-
| {{party color cell|Social Democrats (Denmark)}}
| style="text-align:center;" |'''A'''
|[[Social Democrats (Denmark)|Social Democrats]] {{small|Socialdemokratiet}}
|[[Social democracy]]
|[[Mette Frederiksen]]
| style="text-align:center;" |27.5%
|{{Composition bar|50|179|hex={{party color|Social Democrats (Denmark)}}}}
|{{Composition bar|50|179|hex={{party color|Social Democrats (Denmark)}}}}
|-
| {{party color cell|Venstre (Denmark)}}
| style="text-align:center;" |'''V'''
|[[Venstre (Denmark)|Venstre]] {{small|Venstre, Danmarks Liberale Parti}}
|[[Conservative liberalism]], [[Agrarianism]] ([[Nordic agrarian parties|Nordic]])
|[[Troels Lund Poulsen]]
| style="text-align:center;" |13.3%
|{{Composition bar|23|179|hex={{party color|Venstre (Denmark)}}}}
|{{Composition bar|22|179|hex={{party color|Venstre (Denmark)}}}}
|-
| {{party color cell|Moderates (Denmark)}}
| style="text-align:center;" |'''M'''
|[[Moderates (Denmark)|Moderates]] {{small|Moderaterne}}
|[[Liberalism]], [[Centrism]]
|[[Lars Løkke Rasmussen]]
| style="text-align:center;" |13.3%
|{{Composition bar|16|179|hex={{party color|Moderates (Denmark)}}}}
|{{Composition bar|15|179|hex={{party color|Moderates (Denmark)}}}}
|-
| {{party color cell|Green Left (Denmark)}}
| style="text-align:center;" |'''F'''
|[[Green Left (Denmark)|Green Left]] {{small|Socialistisk Folkeparti}}
|[[Green politics]], [[Popular socialism]]
|[[Pia Olsen Dyhr]]
| style="text-align:center;" |8.3%
|{{Composition bar|15|179|hex={{party color|Green Left (Denmark)}}}}
|{{Composition bar|15|179|hex={{party color|Green Left (Denmark)}}}}
|-
| style="background:#1272C2;" |
| style="text-align:center;" |'''Æ'''
|[[Denmark Democrats]] {{small|Danmarksdemokraterne}}
|[[Right-wing populism]], [[Opposition to immigration|Anti-immigration]]
|[[Inger Støjberg]]
| style="text-align:center;" |8.1%
|{{Composition bar|14|179|hex={{party color|Denmark Democrats}}}}
|{{Composition bar|16|179|hex={{party color|Denmark Democrats}}}}
|-
| {{party color cell|Liberal Alliance (Denmark)}}
| style="text-align:center;" |'''I'''
|[[Liberal Alliance (Denmark)|Liberal Alliance]] {{small|Liberal Alliance}}
|[[Right-libertarianism]], [[Classical liberalism]]
|[[Alex Vanopslagh]]
| style="text-align:center;" |7.9%
|{{Composition bar|14|179|hex={{party color|Liberal Alliance (Denmark)}}}}
|{{Composition bar|14|179|hex={{party color|Liberal Alliance (Denmark)}}}}
|-
| {{party color cell|Conservative People's Party (Denmark)}}
| style="text-align:center;" |'''C'''
|[[Conservative People's Party (Denmark)|Conservative People's Party]] {{small|Det Konservative Folkeparti}}
|[[Green conservatism]], [[Liberal conservatism]]
|[[Mona Juul (Danish politician)|Mona Juul]]
| style="text-align:center;" |5.5%
|{{Composition bar|10|179|hex={{party color|Conservative People's Party (Denmark)}}}}
|{{Composition bar|10|179|hex={{party color|Conservative People's Party (Denmark)}}}}
|-
| {{party color cell|Red–Green Alliance (Denmark)}}
| style="text-align:center;" |'''Ø'''
|[[Red–Green Alliance (Denmark)|Red–Green Alliance]] {{small|Enhedslisten – De Rød-Grønne}}
|[[Eco-socialism]], [[Anti-capitalism]]
|''[[Collective leadership]]'' {{small|Political leader: [[Pelle Dragsted]]}}
| style="text-align:center;" |5.1%
|{{Composition bar|9|179|hex={{party color|Red–Green Alliance (Denmark)}}}}
|{{Composition bar|9|179|hex={{party color|Red–Green Alliance (Denmark)}}}}
|-
| {{party color cell|Danish Social Liberal Party}}
| style="text-align:center;" |'''B'''
|[[Danish Social Liberal Party|Social Liberals]] {{small|Det Radikale Venstre}}
|[[Social liberalism]]
|[[Martin Lidegaard]]
| style="text-align:center;" |3.8%
|{{Composition bar|7|179|hex={{party color|Danish Social Liberal Party}}}}
|{{Composition bar|7|179|hex={{party color|Danish Social Liberal Party}}}}
|-
| {{party color cell|Danish People's Party}}
| style="text-align:center;" |'''O'''
|[[Danish People's Party]] {{small|Dansk Folkeparti}}
|[[Danes|Danish]] [[nationalism]],
[[National conservatism]],
[[Opposition to immigration|Anti-immigration]]
|[[Morten Messerschmidt]]
| style="text-align:center;" |2.6%
|{{Composition bar|5|179|hex={{party color|Danish People's Party}}}}
|{{Composition bar|7|179|hex={{party color|Danish People's Party}}}}
|-
| {{party color cell|The Alternative (Denmark)}}
| style="text-align:center;" |'''Å'''
|[[The Alternative (Denmark)|The Alternative]] {{small|Alternativet}}
|[[Green politics]], [[Pro-Europeanism]]
|[[Franciska Rosenkilde]]
| style="text-align:center;" |3.3%
|{{Composition bar|6|179|hex={{party color|The Alternative (Denmark)}}}}
|{{Composition bar|5|179|hex={{party color|The Alternative (Denmark)}}}}
|-

| {{party color cell|Independent}}
| style="text-align:center;" |'''Ind.'''
|[[Independent politician|Independent]]
! colspan="2" |
| style="text-align:center;" |0.1%
|{{Composition bar|0|179|{{party color|Independent}}}}
|{{Composition bar|4|179|{{party color|Independent}}}}
|}

==See also==
{{Portal|Denmark|Faroe Islands|Politics}}
*[[Cabinet of Denmark]]
*[[Constituencies in Denmark]]
*[[Elections in Denmark]]
*[[Elections in the Faroe Islands]]
*[[Elections in Greenland]]
*[[Parliament of Greenland|Inatsisartut]] – [[Greenland]] (Parliament)
*[[Løgting]] – [[Faroe Islands]] (Parliament)
*[[List of prime ministers of Denmark]]

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Commons category-inline|Folketinget}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20161121051710/https://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/beta/partner/the-danish-parliament The Danish Parliament at Google Cultural Institute]
* Klint, Thorkil; Evert, Anne Sofie; Kjær, Ulrik; Pedersen, Mogens N.; Hjorth, Frederik (2023). "[[doi:10.1016/j.electstud.2023.102624|The Danish legislators database]]". ''Electoral Studies. –''&nbsp;a database of members of Folketinget for every electoral term since its inception in 1849.

{{Denmark topics}}
{{Danish elections}}
{{Faroese elections}}
{{Greenlandic elections}}
{{Parliaments in Europe}}
{{Legislatures of the Nordic countries}}
{{National unicameral legislatures}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|55|40|34|N|12|34|47|E|region:DK_type:landmark_source:dewiki|display=title}}

[[Category:1849 establishments in Denmark]]
[[Category:Government of Denmark]]
[[Category:Parliaments by country|Denmark]]
[[Category:National legislatures|Denmark]]
[[Category:Thing (assembly)]]
[[Category:Unicameral legislatures|Denmark]]
[[Category:Folketing| ]]