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

It’s not every day a politician ends up on supermarket shelves, but in Denmark, they’ve managed it. A few weeks ago, on a ferry between Oslo and Copenhagen, I was told a story that sums up the relationship between Danes and their Prime Minister. A bloke from Aarhus showed me a picture of a toilet paper roll. The packaging? You guessed it, a cheeky shot of Mette Frederiksen. The joke was that she’s so tough, she’s “cleaning up” Danish politics. It’s exactly that kind of dry, affectionate 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 so closely in my youth. It was tense right up until the end, but ultimately there was no doubt: she’s still the one in power. It’s almost surreal to think that just a couple of years ago, Mette Frederiksen’s first government was operating in a completely different reality. Back then, the pandemic was the big talking point, and she was the one who locked 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 around the mink scandal, and many thought Mette Frederiksen had lost her popular touch. 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 on the canvas but refuses to stay down.

Looking at the formation of the new government, I see a clear shift from her first term. Mette Frederiksen’s first government was defined by crisis management and survival. This time, Mette Frederiksen’s second government is about building something more lasting. It’s broader, more anchored in the centre, and it feels very much like an attempt to avoid the same mistakes as before. To understand how she’s pulled this off, you only need to look at what’s happening on the streets, and what the internal sources in the party apparatus are whispering:

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

Maybe that’s what makes her so fascinating. You can’t avoid Mette Frederiksen in Denmark, whether it’s at Christiansborg Palace or down at the supermarket. I recall an episode from last year’s People’s Meeting on Bornholm, where I was queuing for a hot dog. Two older women behind me were discussing her with an intensity usually reserved for a tricky daughter-in-law or a daughter they were proud of. “She’s got guts,” said one. “Yeah, but she’d better watch herself,” the other replied. That’s the kind of ownership Danes feel over her. They claim 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’s 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 has to show she can also foster growth and unity without having a crisis on her hands. (To use a fitting metaphor, given the toilet paper.)

I suspect we in Norway will feel the ripple effects too. When the wind blows in Danish politics, it always creates waves on this side of the border. But right now, an experienced, tough, and remarkably well-trained politician is at the helm in Copenhagen. Mette Frederiksen has survived the worst, and I’m betting cooperation between our countries is going to pick up pace. After all, she’s now one of the longest-serving leaders in the Nordics, and that kind of weight is felt when the 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 genuinely entertaining to watch her balance being the people’s woman with being a relentless strategist. Whatever you think of her policies, there’s one thing we have to give her: she never makes Danish politics boring.