Denmark’s Prime Minister on Radical Islam and European Integration
Mette Frederiksen, Denmark’s left-wing prime minister, has made striking comments on radical Islam within migrant communities in Europe. This has resonated across the continent’s political landscape. Her remarks followed chaotic migration incidents in Spain’s Ceuta, where she critiqued Spanish leader Pedro Sánchez during a Danish Parliamentary session focused on Ceuta.
In response to a far-left politician questioning Denmark’s solidarity with Spain against forces threatening Europe, Frederiksen highlighted a different concern. She stated, “If we talk about undemocratic forces, Russia is our biggest enemy. Yet a new threat has emerged within; and it is foreigners who have come to Europe.”
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While speaking, Frederiksen did not single out Denmark’s integrated immigrant population. She emphasized that the threat involves Hamas supporters, those instigating terror against European societies, and individuals dismissing core European values. According to Frederiksen, these issues stem from within Europe, not a disagreement between Danish and Spanish governments, but due to the influence of Islamist radicals who reject European society.
Daniel Schatz, a Sweden-based foreign policy expert, remarked on the significance of such statements coming from a center-left leader. He noted that Europe’s dialogue on immigration has drastically shifted.
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Frederiksen gained office in Denmark’s 2019 elections, pledging significant reforms on climate targets, pension adjustments for manual workers, and stricter immigration policies. Denmark already harbored some of Europe’s toughest asylum laws prior to her tenure, including a 2018 law addressing “parallel societies.” This law empowered the government to alter social housing where residents predominantly come from “non-Western” backgrounds, under certain conditions, denying refugees in these areas family reunions.
In 2021, she introduced a deportation law permitting refugees’ return to their native countries deemed safe by Denmark, regardless of diplomatic relations or EU law compatibility.
Since June, Frederiksen has vocally opposed Spain’s Sánchez on immigration policies, stating, “I and the Spanish Prime Minister deeply disagree on immigration policy…We will not accept Denmark paying for decisions in Spain.”
On August 1, Frederiksen joined Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and 20 EU leaders in a letter expressing concerns over mass migration, emphasizing Europe’s inability to permit illegal EU entry.
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Both Frederiksen and Meloni, as the only female government heads in the EU, issued a joint statement on August 10, defending Europe’s Christian cultural heritage and the expectation for newcomers to respect European values.
Emma Schubart from the Henry Jackson Society supported Frederiksen’s position, recognizing Europe’s failure to address migration and integration consequences, indicating the rise of parallel societies and extremism.
Daniel Schatz stressed the importance of Frederiksen’s stance, viewing it as an acknowledgment that Europe faces threats from Russia and within its borders from extremism. For a Center-left leader, this language is significant.
Frederiksen’s political approach aims to protect Denmark’s social systems while controlling immigration policy, preventing right-wing monopolization of the issue.
Schubart emphasized that other leaders should adopt similar approaches to secure borders, deport those without rights to remain, and enforce integration into national laws and values.
Tyler Speicher contributed additional reporting. Speicher is an American journalist based in Slovenia, previously reporting extensively for New York City news outlets and Fox News Channel.