Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt conceded defeat in Thursday's general election and resigned as Social Democratic party leader after a record score for an anti-immigration party lifted the opposition right-wing bloc to victory.
"Dear friends, I have decided to step down and therefore our party now has to find another leader," she said, her voice shaking.
"Tomorrow I will go to the Queen and tell her that the government is stepping down. Now it is up to Lars Lokke Rasmussen to try to form a government," she added, referring to the leader of the main right-wing party Venstre.
The anti-immigration Danish People's Party (DPP) unexpectedly became the second-largest winners from the vote, helping the right-wing opposition to victory in a race that pollsters had described as too close to call.
Thorning-Schmidt's approval ratings languished for most of her four-year tenure as the economy dipped in and out of recession and her centre-left coalition cut benefits and lowered taxes.
But she rebounded in opinion polls after calling the election three weeks ago as economic growth returned and by talking tough on immigration.
Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt conceded defeat in Thursday’s general election and resigned as Social Democratic party leader after a record score for an anti-immigration party lifted the opposition right-wing bloc to victory.
“Dear friends, I have decided to step down and therefore our party now has to find another leader,” she said, her voice shaking.
“Tomorrow I will go to the Queen and tell her that the government is stepping down. Now it is up to Lars Lokke Rasmussen to try to form a government,” she added, referring to the leader of the main right-wing party Venstre.
The anti-immigration Danish People’s Party (DPP) unexpectedly became the second-largest winners from the vote, helping the right-wing opposition to victory in a race that pollsters had described as too close to call.
Thorning-Schmidt’s approval ratings languished for most of her four-year tenure as the economy dipped in and out of recession and her centre-left coalition cut benefits and lowered taxes.
But she rebounded in opinion polls after calling the election three weeks ago as economic growth returned and by talking tough on immigration.
