Mette Frederiksen: Denmark’s Iron Lady Makes a Comeback – And Makes Toilet Paper History

It’s not often that a politician ends up on the shelves of your local supermarket, but in Denmark, they’ve managed it. A few weeks ago, on a ferry between Oslo and Copenhagen, I was told a story that perfectly sums up the relationship between the Danes and their Prime Minister. A guy from Aarhus showed me a picture of a toilet paper roll. On the packaging? Yep, a glimpse of Mette Frederiksen. The joke was that she’s so tough, she “cleans house” in Danish politics. It’s that exact kind of warm, respectful irony that defines how they see their Iron Lady.

Now, she’s back in full force. Mette Frederiksen’s second government is in place, following an election night that reminded me of the old party leader debates I used to follow closely as a teenager. It was nail-biting right until the end, but ultimately, there was no doubt: she’s holding onto power. It’s almost surreal to think that just a couple of years ago, Mette Frederiksen’s first government was operating in an entirely different reality. Back then, the pandemic was the hot topic, and she was the one who shut down Denmark in a way we’d never seen before. Mink were to be culled, borders closed – she made decisions that made her both hated and loved, but never ignored.

From the People’s Meeting to new negotiations

What strikes me now is how quickly things shift in Danish politics. Over the summer, I was at a harbour bath in Copenhagen, listening to people debate whether she was “finished.” There was a lot of noise surrounding the mink scandal, and many believed Mette Frederiksen had lost her touch with the people. But that woman from Aalborg, who started out as a young advocate in the trade union movement, didn’t give up. She’s like a boxer who’s been counted out but refuses to stay down.

Looking at the formation of this new government, I see a clear shift from her first term. Mette Frederiksen’s first government was marked by crisis management and survival. This, Mette Frederiksen’s second government, is about building something more permanent. It’s broader, more anchored in the centre, and you can clearly sense an effort to avoid the same mistakes as before. To understand how she’s managed this, you only need to look at what’s happening on the streets and what the insider sources in the party apparatus are whispering:

• The significance of re-election: She’s the first Social Democratic Prime Minister from the left to secure a second term in a very long time. That speaks volumes about her personal appeal.
• The alliances: Where her first government stood alone initially, she’s now brought in several parties to create a broader platform.
• Her common touch: Whether it’s toilet paper with her face on it or debates about welfare, she has a knack for staying relevant in everyday conversations.

And perhaps that’s exactly what makes her so fascinating. You can’t avoid Mette Frederiksen in Denmark, whether you’re at Christiansborg Palace or down at the supermarket. I remember an incident from last year’s People’s Meeting on Bornholm, where I was queuing for a hot dog. Two elderly women behind me were discussing her with an intensity, as if they were talking about a difficult daughter-in-law or a daughter they were proud of. “She’s got guts,” one said. “Yes, but she needs to be careful,” the other replied. That’s the kind of ownership the Danes feel over her. They own her, they criticise her, but they won’t let her fall.

The road ahead for the Danish Prime Minister

Now that Mette Frederiksen’s second government has set its course, everyone is wondering what the next big battle will be. To me, it seems like she’s learned something from the tough years of Mette Frederiksen’s first government. Crisis leadership was her strength, but now she needs to show she can also foster growth and unity without there being a fire to put out. (To use a fitting metaphor, given the toilet paper.)

I suspect we’ll feel this ripple effect in Norway too. When the political winds blow in Denmark, it always creates waves over here across the border. But right now, an experienced, tough, and exceptionally well-trained politician is at the helm in Copenhagen. Mette Frederiksen has survived the worst, and I’m betting we’ll see more momentum in cooperation between our countries going forward. After all, she’s now one of the longest-serving leaders in the Nordics, and that kind of weight is felt when Prime Ministers gather for meetings.

What started as a joke on a toilet paper roll has turned into a serious political comeback. For those of us who follow Nordic politics closely, it’s simply entertaining to watch how she balances being a woman of the people with being a ruthless strategist. Whatever you think of her politics, there’s one thing we have to give her: she never makes Danish politics boring.