Mette Frederiksen Announces Elections in Denmark; Catherine Pégard Becomes New Culture Minister in France

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen officially announced in parliament that citizens will go to the polls on March 24, 2026. Although the constitutional deadline was set for the end of October, the head of government decided to hold a snap election to capitalize on a rise in popularity following a diplomatic crisis with the USA. The dispute concerned Donald Trump's attempts to annex Greenland, which Frederiksen firmly opposed, earning her the title of defender of sovereignty. In her speech, she emphasized that the next four years will be decisive for the country's security and Denmark's position in Europe. The Social Democrats' program is to be based on rearming the military, supporting Ukraine, and introducing a new wealth tax for the richest. The party also announces significant investments in education, including reducing class sizes in primary schools. The current coalition, consisting of Social Democrats, Liberals, and Moderates, had previously struggled with a drop in support after losses in local elections, but a firm foreign policy reversed these trends. Since the 1950s, Denmark has maintained close defense relations with the USA within NATO, with Greenland playing a key strategic role due to the location of early warning bases. Simultaneously in Paris, the Élysée Palace announced changes in Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu's cabinet. The most important news is the appointment of Catherine Pégard as Minister of Culture. Pégard, a former advisor to Emmanuel Macron and ex-president of the Palace of Versailles, takes over from Rachida Dati. Dati's resignation was expected, as the politician openly admitted she wants to dedicate herself to the campaign for the capital's local elections. Besides the culture portfolio, changes included the return of Sabrina Agresti-Roubache to the government as Minister for Vocational Training and the promotion of Maud Bregeon, who, alongside her role as government spokesperson, will handle energy policy. Camille Galliard-Minier (autonomy and disabled persons) and Jean-Didier Berger (delegate minister at the Interior Ministry) also joined the government. „Det er nu op til jer, vælgerne, at beslutte, hvilken retning Danmark skal tage i de næste fire år. Og jeg glæder mig til det.” (It is now up to you, the voters, to decide which direction Denmark should take in the next four years. And I look forward to it.) — Mette Frederiksen The reshuffle in France is seen as a technical course correction ahead of the March local elections, aimed at strengthening President Macron's support base. The new culture minister faces a difficult challenge following Dati's controversial tenure, which was criticized for budget cuts and a lack of reforms in public media. Meanwhile in Denmark, the election campaign will focus on recalibrating relations with Washington. Frederiksen stated that Europe must learn to "stand on its own two feet." However, the opposition notes that moving the vote forward is a preemptive move to avoid facing rising living costs, which, despite diplomatic successes, continue to burden Danish households.