Role and authority Prime Minister of Denmark

the constitution of denmark states monarch, head of state, has supreme authority , acts out power through ministers. monarch formally appoints , dismisses ministers, including prime minister. in sense, prime minister has power given monarch, according constitution.

although country s leading politician, prime minister not powerful other prime ministers in europe. because impossible 1 party majority of seats in folketing (parliament), government coalition between 2 or more parties. no danish party has won majority since 1901, , of time there has not been majority coalition. because of limited powers, prime minister primus inter pares (first among equals). additionally, result of weak control have on parliament, prime minister must cobble majority each piece of legislation.

although, stated, monarch formally appoints ministers of cabinet freely, in practice monarchs conventionally select prime minister after leader has gathered support majority in folketing. single party has majority in folketing, instead parties form alliances; social democrats centre-left parties, , venstre centre-right parties. following elections when there no clear leader, monarch hold king/queen s meeting where, after series of discussions , agreements, leader of largest alliance , largest party within alliance—usually social democrats or venstre- appointed prime minister-elect (kongelig undersøger) . new prime minister-elect, leaders of junior parties, select ministers form new coalition cabinet, presented monarch.

the prime minister chairs weekly meetings of council of ministers , has power set agenda of these meetings. prime minister traditionally gathers government ministry known ministry of state of denmark (statsministeriet) or prime minister s office. atypical of danish ministry not have councils, boards or committees associated , near sole responsibility act secretariat of prime minister. there small department under ministry takes care of special legal issues not covered under other ministries, among others greenland s , faroe islands relation monarchy, mass media s contact state, number of ministers in government, or queen margrethe ii legal status civilian.

the prime minister, convention, chooses dissolve folketing , call new election (although formally undertaken monarch), prime minister obligated within 4 years of previous election. in spite of this, prime minister has no respect denmark s autonomous regions, faroe islands , greenland, while folketing on other hand does, laws passed faroese , greenlandic parliaments must ratified folketing.

there exist checks on prime minister s power; folketing may revoke confidence in incumbent prime minister, in case prime minister must either resign along entire cabinet or ask monarch dissolve folketing , call new election. whenever prime minister resigns, dies, or forced office, monarch asks them (or, in case of death, next available leader in coalition) keep government caretaker government until successor has been elected.