Moderate Party Leader Hints At Position Outside Gov't As Talks Continue

Former PM and head of the centrist Moderates Lars Lokke Rasmussen has stated that his party might not sit as an official coalition partner should the two largest parties in Denmark - the centre-left Social Democrats and centre-right Venstre (Liberals) - reach a deal to form a broad 'grand coalition' gov't.

• Speaking on 30 Nov, Rasmussen hinted at a position supporting a gov't in a confidence and supply agreement, stating that, “Whether we are in or not is less important. But we want to put ourselves in a position where we can influence the content. That’s what matters.”
• Following the 1 Nov general election, talks remain ongoing as Social Democrat PM Mette Frederiksen seeks to form a majority coalition. While the parties of the left would hold an overall majority, ahead of the election Frederiksen stated that she would seek a centrist administration crossing the historical 'red-blue' divide.
• Other parties may be wary of inviting the Moderates into a formal coalition, despite them sitting as the third-largest party in parliament. Rasmussen governed for a combined 6.5 years as head of the Venstre party, raising concerns that he could alienate partners on the centre-left that remember his time leading centre-right coalitions.