With both red bloc and blue bloc short of a majority, the Moderates emerged as potential kingmakers. On 25 March, following the announcement of the election results, the parties submitted their recommendations for who should be the formateur. Frederiksen was announced as formateur later that day. On 25 March 2026, King Frederik X requested Prime Minister Frederiksen, after being appointed as formateur, to lead negotiations with the Green Left and the Social Liberals to try to form a coalition. Frederiksen said she favoured a coalition with the five red-bloc parties and called it the "most realistic option", which would consist of the Social Democrats, Green Left, Red–Green Alliance, Social Liberals, and Alternative, with the Moderates joining in as well. While this is mathematically possible, the Moderates leader Rasmussen is not in favour of backing a red-bloc or a blue-bloc government and prefers a compromise on parties from both blocs; it remained unclear if he would accept negotiations to back solely a red-bloc government or a blue-bloc government. Throughout the election period, Rasmussen had ruled out forming a government that includes the Red–Green Alliance or one that includes the Danish People's Party. On 31 March 2026, the MP-elect from the Faroese
Social Democratic Party,
Sjúrður Skaale endorsed Frederiksen for the Prime Minister post. It was also reported that Greenland's two elected MPs,
Naaja Nathanielsen from Inuit Ataqatigiit and
Qarsoq Høegh-Dam from Naleraq are also participating in coalition talks with Frederiksen and are seeking more Greenlandic autonomy on foreign policy, following U.S. President
Donald Trump's repeated threats to annex the territory. On 10 April 2026, it was reported that Rasmussen had put a block on future coalition negotiations involving a centre-left government, which would have been dependent on the Red-Green Alliance, putting a "pause" on such government formation, after yielding little success. The reasoning behind this was reportedly disagreements on economic policy and he described a government involving the Red-Green Alliance as "irresponsible and therefore impossible". Rasmussen declared he preferred a coalition involving two red parties (Social Democrats and Social Liberals), two blue parties (Venstre and Conservatives), and his own Moderates in the next government, that would be formed "around the centre", which mathematically would give them a majority. Rasmussen said he was willing to still negotiate with Frederiksen as formateur, but on the condition that she invite Venstre for talks, who had previously ruled out working with her, but later appeared to have softened their stance on forming a government with Frederiksen, based on the Venstre's deputy chairman,
Stephanie Lose's recent interview, where she appeared a "little more open for talks", as well as the Conservatives, who said they were willing to negotiate with Frederiksen. However, it was reported that talks on forming a centre-left government backed by the Red-Green Alliance can proceed and may be revisited in the future, if talks with the blue-parties fail, indicating that Rasmussen will be testing to see, if Venstre are willing to compromise, similar to the pressure, that he applied on the Social Democrats. Rasmussen stated that after he gave his ultimatum on future talks, he was given the impression that Frederiksen was reaching out to Venstre and Conservatives to invite them for talks. Following Rasmussen's announcement, the leader of Venstre, Troels Lund Poulsen called on Rasmussen to form a centre-right government without the Social Democrats and with the blue-bloc parties instead, where economic issues can align, which was followed by Conservative leader Mona Juul stating she was seeking for Rasmussen to give "the blues' a chance" on forming a coalition. However, Rasmussen indicated he does not intend to go that route and instead interpreted Poulsen's statements as a sign of willingness to negotiate, in broader context. After Rasmussen's announcement, Frederiksen met with red-bloc parties for negotiations and there was a clear split stance on how the government should be formed. While it was not their first preference, the Social Democrats and the Social Liberals left the door open and expressed willingness to negotiate such government formation, while the leaders of the Green-Left, Red-Green Alliance, and Alternative remained optimistic and positive that a centre-left government with the Moderates can be formed, but said they would not join any government involving Venstre and Conservatives. Later that day, Venstre confirmed they would attend the talks, as well as the Conservatives. == See also ==