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Danish PM close to poll majority Danish centre-right wins election
(about 2 hours later)
Denmark's governing coalition, led by Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen, is close to winning an absolute majority, projections say. Denmark's governing coalition, led by Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen, has won a general election, but is one seat short of an absolute majority.
With over 95% of the votes counted, his Liberal-Conservative coalition looks one seat short of a majority. With all the votes counted, his Liberal-Conservative led government has taken 89 of the 179 seats in the Folketing, the country's parliament.
Mr Rasmussen could be forced to seek support from a new party headed by a Syrian-born Palestinian immigrant.
Turnout was higher than in the previous poll, held in 2005, at over 86%.
Mr Rasmussen, 54, who won a third consecutive election after the 2001 and 2005 victories was in a jubilant mood.
"Everything indicates that the government can continue," he told his supporters after victory became clear.
Social Democrat leader Helle Thorning-Schmidt has admitted her party had failed to gain enough votes, saying: "It was not enough."Social Democrat leader Helle Thorning-Schmidt has admitted her party had failed to gain enough votes, saying: "It was not enough."
Turnout was higher than in the previous poll, held in 2005, at well over 80%.
If the Liberal-Conservatives gain 89 seats, as looks likely, they will be one seat short of an absolute majority in the 179-member parliament, the Folketing.
'Kingmaker' Khader?'Kingmaker' Khader?
Mr Rasmussen's minority Liberal-Conservative coalition - along with its parliamentary ally, the right-wing Danish People's Party (DPP) - may need the support of the recently formed New Alliance party, led by Naser Khader, tipped to win five seats. But Mr Rasmussen's Liberal Party lost six seats and most of these went to the recently formed New Alliance party headed by Naser Khader, which won five seats, holding the balance of power in the new parliament.
Naser Khader (R) could have an important role in coalition talks THE NEW DANISH PARLIAMENT Liberal Party 46 (-6)Social Democrats 45 (-1)Danish People's Party 25 (+1)Socialist Party 23 (+12)Conservative Party 18 (no change)New Alliance 5 (+5)Others 17Total 179
The minority Liberal-Conservative government has counted until now on the support of the anti-immigrant Danish People's Party.
And although Mr Khader has said his choice would be to side with the current prime minister, many expect negotiations along the way.And although Mr Khader has said his choice would be to side with the current prime minister, many expect negotiations along the way.
But such a coalition including the anti-immigrant DPP and Mr Khader's party would be unstable, analysts say. But such a coalition including the anti-immigrant DPP and Mr Khader's party would be unstable, some analysts say.
The close result could lead to a situation where the four MPs from the Faroe Islands and Greenland - the Danish dependencies in the North Atlantic - end up holding the balance of power, BBC's Julian Isherwood reports from Copenhagen.
There has been much campaign wrangling about welfare and tax reforms, immigration and the environment.There has been much campaign wrangling about welfare and tax reforms, immigration and the environment.
But all the main parties seem to agree on the core issues and campaigning has been more about who wields power than a policy change, correspondents say.But all the main parties seem to agree on the core issues and campaigning has been more about who wields power than a policy change, correspondents say.