DESPITE finishing first in Denmark’s election, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen decided to step down along with her Social Democratic government today in an attempt to build a broader coalition across the political divide.

Ms Frederiksen’s announcement came after a dramatic vote count, in which the centre-left bloc that has backed her since 2019 retained its majority in parliament by a single seat.

In theory, the 44-year-old Social Democratic leader could have stayed in power as head of a minority government.