{{short description|Left-wing Danish political party}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2025}} {{Infobox political party | name = Red–Green Alliance | native_name = Enhedslisten – De Rød-Grønne | logo = Enhedslisten logo (2017–present).svg | abbreviation = EL<br>Ø{{efn|Official party letter on voting ballot}} | logo_size = 250 | colorcode = {{Political party data|color}} | leader = ''Collective leadership'' | foundation = 2 December 1989 | membership_year = 2021 | membership = {{decrease}} 9,398<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Hoffmann-Hansen |first1=Henrik |last2=Nilsson |first2=Simone |last3=Jespersen |first3=Johan Storgaard |last4=Krasnik |first4=Benjamin |last5=Fabricius |first5=Kitte |last6=Schmidt |first6=Mara Malene Raun |last7=Gosmann |first7=Mie Borggreen Winther og Sara Mathilde |date=3 October 2022 |title=Overblik: Partierne i Danmark |url=https://www.kristeligt-dagblad.dk/politik-begyndere/overblik-partierne-i-danmark |access-date=4 January 2023 |website=Kristeligt Dagblad |language=da |archive-date=8 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221108101315/https://www.kristeligt-dagblad.dk/politik-begyndere/overblik-partierne-i-danmark |url-status=live }}</ref> | ideology = {{ubl|class=nowrap| |Socialism<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 June 2015 |title=Danish elections 2015: a guide to the parties, candidates and electoral system |url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jun/16/danish-election-guide-parties-candidates |access-date=11 July 2022 |website=the Guardian |language=en |archive-date=11 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220711213043/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jun/16/danish-election-guide-parties-candidates |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |title=Political and cultural representations of Muslims : Islam in the plural |date=2012 |publisher=Brill |others=Christopher Flood |isbn=978-90-04-23103-0 |location=Leiden |pages=43 |oclc=808367020}}</ref><ref name="Springer2023">{{cite book |last1=Escalona |first1=Fabien |last2=Keith |first2=Daniel |last3=March |first3=Luke |date=17 April 2023 |title=The Palgrave Handbook of Radical Left Parties in Europe |url=https://books.google.com/books/about/The_Palgrave_Handbook_of_Radical_Left_Pa.html?id=wTu6EAAAQBAJ&source=kp_book_description |publisher=Springer Nature |page=146 |isbn=1137562641 |quote=The party programme reflects a strong ideological commitment to socialism, democratic participation and environmental sustainability. |access-date=15 August 2025}}</ref> |Eco-socialism<ref>{{cite news |title=Copenhagen faces backlash over €2.7B 'green' island plan |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/denmark-living-cities-copenhagen-backlash-green-artificial-island-plan-lynetteholm/ |work=POLITICO |date=15 December 2022 |access-date=28 December 2022 |archive-date=28 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221228171211/https://www.politico.eu/article/denmark-living-cities-copenhagen-backlash-green-artificial-island-plan-lynetteholm/ |url-status=live }}</ref> |Environmentalism<ref name="Springer2023"/> |Marxism<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Thøgersen |first1=Jacob |last2=Preisler |first2=Bent |title=Globalisation, attitudes towards English and party-political affiliation: The case of Denmark |journal=Scandinavian Studies in Language |date=17 June 2024 |volume=15 |issue=1 |page=27 |doi=10.7146/sss.v15i1.146764|doi-access=free }}</ref> |Anti-capitalism<ref name="BengtssonHansen"/> }} | headquarters = Studiestræde 24, 1455 Copenhagen | website = {{Political party data|website}} | country = Denmark | merger = Left Socialists<br />Communist Party of Denmark (until 2023)<br />Socialist Workers Party<br />Communist Workers Party independents | leader1_name = Pelle Dragsted | leader1_title = Political spokesperson | position = Left-wing{{refn|<ref>{{bulleted list |{{cite web|url=https://europeelects.eu/2019/06/01/danish-elections-electoral-blocs-fracture-ahead-of-the-vote/|title='''The left-wing Red-Green Alliance''' (GUE/NGL) also look like they will make no significant gains in the election despite taking their first ever seat in the European Parliament last week, won from the left-wing People's Movement Against the EU (GUE/NGL).|work=Europe Elects|date=1 June 2019|access-date=9 August 2019|archive-date=8 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190808141831/https://europeelects.eu/2019/06/01/danish-elections-electoral-blocs-fracture-ahead-of-the-vote/|url-status=live}} |{{cite news|url=https://www.thelocal.dk/20190315/danish-left-wing-party-changes-stance-on-referendum-over-eu-membership|title=Danish left-wing party changes stance on EU membership referendum|work=The Local dk|date=15 March 2019|access-date=9 August 2019|archive-date=31 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190831063512/https://www.thelocal.dk/20190315/danish-left-wing-party-changes-stance-on-referendum-over-eu-membership|url-status=live}} |{{cite news|url=https://www.thelocal.dk/20180816/fourth-party-leader-throws-hat-into-danish-pm-ring|title=Fourth party leader states intentions to become Danish PM|quote=Pernille Skipper, lead spokesperson with the '''left-wing Red-Green Alliance (Enhedslisten) party''', has said she intends to run as a prime ministerial candidate at Denmark's next general election.|work=The Local dk|date=16 August 2018|access-date=9 August 2019|archive-date=8 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190808143335/https://www.thelocal.dk/20180816/fourth-party-leader-throws-hat-into-danish-pm-ring|url-status=live}} |{{cite news |last= Jensen |first= Teis |date= 24 June 2016 |title= Danish government-allied populists call for EU vote, PM rejects |url= https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-eu-denmark-idUSKCN0ZA1IS |work= Reuters |access-date= 5 October 2019 |archive-date= 5 October 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20191005171557/https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-eu-denmark-idUSKCN0ZA1IS |url-status= live }}}}</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=-LGoDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA149 Imagining the Peoples of Europe – populist discourses across the political spectrum]. Edited by Jan Zienkowski and Ruth Breeze. p. 149. Chapter 6. Chapter author – Óscar García Agustín. Published by John Benjamins Publishing Company in 2019. Retrieved via Google Books.</ref>}} to far-left<ref name="farleft">{{bulleted list|{{cite web |url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2019/06/07/did-the-left-really-win-in-denmark-mette-frederiksen-social-democrats-danish-peoples-party-venstre-immigration-asylum/ |title=Did the Left Really Win in Denmark? |date=7 June 2019 |first=Sune |last=Haugbolle |website=Foreign Policy |quote=These positions chime better with the three parties that traditionally support Social Democratic governments—the Social Liberals, the Socialist People's Party, and the far-left Red-Green Alliance.}}|{{cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/danish-opposition-protests-government-move-stop-koran-burnings-2023-08-03/ |title=Danish opposition protests at government move to stop Koran burnings |date=3 August 2023 |website=Reuters |first=Johannes |last=Birkebaek |quote=Ranging from the far-right New Right party to the far-left Red-Green Alliance, the seven parties together hold 72 seats in the 178 member parliament, while the government of three centre-right and centre-left parties has a total of 88 seats.}}|{{cite web |url=https://www.thelocal.dk/20250424/danish-parliament-votes-through-unfair-hike-to-citizenship-fee |title=Danish parliament votes through 'unfair' hike to citizenship fee |first=Richard |last=Orange |date=24 April 2025 |website=Local Denmark |quote="Peder Hvelplund, immigration spokesperson for the far-left Red-Green Alliance, told The Local in February that the 6,000 kroner fee would mean a five-fold increase in the fee in little over a decade, making the cost "really unfair" on applicants."}}|{{cite web |url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/politics/quran-burnings-danish-muslims-demand-broader-action-as-government-weighs-legal-steps/2961853 |title=Quran burnings: Danish Muslims demand broader action as government weighs legal steps |date=5 August 2023 |first=Ebad |last=Ahmed |location=Copenhagen |quote=The parties include forces from both sides of the Danish political spectrum, ranging from the far-right Nye Borgerlige to the far-left Red-Green Alliance. |website=Anadolu Agency}}|{{cite web |url=https://forward.com/news/455550/denmarks-proposed-circumcision-ban-will-make-jewish-life-untenable/ |website=The Forward |title=Denmark's proposed circumcision ban will make Jewish life 'untenable' |date=30 September 2020 |first=Rasmus |last=Lybech |quote=From the far-left Red-Green Alliance to the two nationalist parties on the opposite end of the spectrum, most parties in Parliament express support for a ban.}}|{{cite journal |last=Seeberg |first=Henrik |year=2020 |title=The Red-Green Alliance: A roaring, yet harmless lion |journal=Politica |volume=52 |issue=3 |doi=10.7146/politica.v52i3.130825 |publisher=Tidsskriftet Politica |url=https://tidsskrift.dk/politica/article/view/130825 |page=1 |quote=The Red-Green Alliance (RGA) rose from the ashes of three dying communist parties when the Berlin wall fell in 1989, and has enjoyed remarkable success. RGA has become an established, stable part of the far left in the Danish Folketing.|doi-access=free }}}}</ref> | european = European Left Alliance<br />for the People and the Planet<br />Now the People !<br />European Anti-Capitalist Left | europarl = The Left in the European Parliament<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.guengl.eu/groups/delegation/enhedslisten/|title=Enhedslisten-GUE/NGL|access-date=8 August 2019|archive-date=8 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190808131804/https://www.guengl.eu/groups/delegation/enhedslisten/|url-status=live}}</ref> | affiliation1_title = Nordic affiliation | affiliation1 = Nordic Green Left Alliance | youth_wing = Cooperating with RGU youth organization | colours = {{colorbox|#d0004c|border=silver}} Red<br />{{colorbox|#15A06B|border=silver}} Green <br /> {{colorbox|#F7660D|border=silver}} Orange (customary) | symbol = 60px|alt=Ø <!-- Values obtained from Wikidata; to edit, see https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q25785 -->| seats1_title = Folketing | seats1 = {{Political party data|seat composition bar|ms-lower-house}}{{Efn|Only 175 of the 179 seats in the Danish Parliament, the Folketing, are obtainable by Danish political parties as Greenland and the Faroe Islands are assigned two seats each due to their status as territories in the Kingdom of Denmark.}} | seats2_title = European Parliament | seats2 = {{Political party data|seat composition bar|EP}} | seats3_title = Regions<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.statistikbanken.dk/akva3|work=Statistics Denmark|title=AKVA3: Valg til regions råd efter område, parti og stemmer/kandidater/køn|access-date=13 June 2010|archive-date=5 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170205082053/http://www.statistikbanken.dk/akva3|url-status=live}}</ref> | seats3 = {{Composition bar|8|205|hex={{Political party data|color}}}} | seats4_title = Municipalities<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.statistikbanken.dk/valgk3|work=Statistics Denmark|title=VALGK3: Valg til kommunale råd efter område, parti og stemmer/kandidater/køn|access-date=13 June 2010|archive-date=5 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170205082058/http://www.statistikbanken.dk/valgk3|url-status=live}}</ref> | seats4 = {{Composition bar|111|2432|hex={{Political party data|color}}}} }}
The '''Red–Green Alliance''',<ref>{{cite web |last1=Boffey |first1=Daniel |title=Denmark under pressure to drop plans to work with Israel on vaccines |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/mar/03/denmark-under-pressure-to-drop-plans-to-work-with-israel-on-vaccines |website=The Guardian |access-date=3 April 2021 |date=3 March 2021 |archive-date=31 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210331084607/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/mar/03/denmark-under-pressure-to-drop-plans-to-work-with-israel-on-vaccines |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Skydsgaard |first1=Nikolaj |title=Denmark blocks firms registered in tax-havens from state aid |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-denmark-idUSKBN2221V8 |website=Reuters |access-date=3 April 2021 |language=en |date=20 April 2020 |archive-date=26 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210326143903/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-denmark-idUSKBN2221V8 |url-status=live }}</ref> or '''Unity List''',<ref>{{cite web |title=Denmark passes legislation to strip ISIL fighters of citizenship |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/10/24/denmark-passes-legislation-to-strip-isil-fighters-of-citizenship |website=Al Jazeera |access-date=3 April 2021 |language=en |date=24 October 2019 |archive-date=11 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210511181358/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/10/24/denmark-passes-legislation-to-strip-isil-fighters-of-citizenship |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Meret |first1=Susi |last2=Beyer Gregersen |first2=Andreas |title=Islam as a "floating signifier": Right-wing populism and perceptions of Muslims in Denmark |url=https://www.brookings.edu/research/islam-as-a-floating-signifier-right-wing-populism-and-perceptions-of-muslims-in-denmark/ |website=Brookings Institution |access-date=3 April 2021 |date=24 July 2019 |archive-date=12 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210412123424/https://www.brookings.edu/research/islam-as-a-floating-signifier-right-wing-populism-and-perceptions-of-muslims-in-denmark/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Thomassen |first1=Lasse |title=Is there an Alternative for Denmark? |url=https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/can-europe-make-it/is-there-alternative-for-denmark/ |website=openDemocracy |access-date=3 April 2021 |language=en |date=5 June 2015 |archive-date=21 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210421041410/https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/can-europe-make-it/is-there-alternative-for-denmark/ |url-status=live }}</ref> ({{langx|da|Enhedslisten – De Rød-Grønne}},<ref name="Loomes2013">{{cite book|author=Gemma Loomes|title=Party Strategies in Western Europe: Party Competition and Electoral Outcomes|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iGOvekeiLl0C&pg=PA201|access-date=31 July 2013|date=17 June 2013|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-136-59303-1|pages=201–}}</ref> {{literally|The Unity List – The Red–Greens}}, '''EL''') is an eco-socialist political party in Denmark.<ref name="Nordsieck">{{Cite web|url=http://parties-and-elections.eu/denmark.html|title=Denmark|last=Nordsieck|first=Wolfram|date=2019|website=Parties and Elections in Europe|access-date=16 April 2018|archive-date=1 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220401144849/http://www.parties-and-elections.eu/denmark.html|url-status=live}}</ref> It was founded in 1989 with the merger of three Marxist parties,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.enhedslisten.dk/enhedslistens-historie|title=Enhedslistens historie|work=Enhedslisten|access-date=25 February 2015|archive-date=19 September 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100919224325/http://enhedslisten.dk/enhedslistens-historie|url-status=dead}}</ref> and is the most left-wing party in the Folketing, where it advocates for the expansion of the welfare state and social justice as well as the socialist transformation of Denmark and the entire globe.<ref name="principprogrammet"/> During the 2021 Copenhagen City Council election the party placed first, with 24.6% of the votes.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kommunalvalget, Resultater i København |url=https://kmdvalg.dk/KV/2021/K84982101.htm |website=kmdvalg.dk |language=da |access-date=6 September 2022 |archive-date=18 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220518154859/https://www.kmdvalg.dk/KV/2021/K84982101.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> The party is also active in various trade unions within Denmark.<ref name="principprogrammet"/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Jacobsen |first1=Louis |title=Fagbevægelsen skal være politisk, men ikke partipolitisk |url=https://www.information.dk/debat/2019/11/fagbevaegelsen-vaere-politisk-partipolitisk |website=Information |language=da |date=11 November 2019 |access-date=6 September 2022 |archive-date=30 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220630081039/https://www.information.dk/debat/2019/11/fagbevaegelsen-vaere-politisk-partipolitisk |url-status=live }}</ref>
== Ideological position == The party describes itself as a democratic and socialist grassroots party, which represents green politics, among the Danish peace, civil and political rights, and labour movements. The party's ideological position is set out in a manifesto from 2014.<ref name="principprogrammet">{{cite web|url=http://www.enhedslisten.dk/enhedslistens-principprogram|title=Enhedslistens principprogram|work=Enhedslisten|access-date=25 February 2015|archive-date=18 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718092413/http://enhedslisten.dk/enhedslistens-principprogram|url-status=live}}</ref> It proposes that a socialistic society of the future "neither can nor should be described in detail, but rather be developed and shaped by the people living in it". It describes socialism as "an answer to the problems caused by capitalism such as non-sufficient democracy, crises, destruction of nature, inequality, racism and war".<ref name="principprogrammet"/>
Holding anti-capitalist,<ref name="BengtssonHansen">{{cite book|author1=Åsa Bengtsson|author2=Kasper Hansen|author3=Ólafur Þ Harõarson |author4=Hanne Marthe Narud |author5=Henrik Oscarsson|title=The Nordic Voter: Myths of Exceptionalism|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VJ4hAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA204|date=15 November 2013|publisher=ECPR Press|isbn=978-1-907301-50-6|page=204}}</ref> as well as soft Eurosceptic views,<ref name="Nordsieck"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.opendemocracy.net/can-europe-make-it/anita-nissen/uk-and-denmark-growing-public-euroscepticism|title=The UK and Denmark: Growing public euroscepticism|access-date=17 September 2014|archive-date=22 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190122145207/https://www.opendemocracy.net/can-europe-make-it/anita-nissen/uk-and-denmark-growing-public-euroscepticism|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=EU-politik|url=http://enhedslisten.dk/eupolitik|work=enhedslisten.dk|access-date=7 March 2015|language=da|archive-date=5 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305172151/http://enhedslisten.dk/eupolitik|url-status=dead}}</ref>{{Obsolete source|reason=These sources are from 2018 and before.|date=May 2026}} it states this about the economic system: <blockquote>A new and actually democratic system of society requires fundamental changes in the ownership of the means of production, such as companies, land and natural resources. Collective forms of ownership will be dominating. We propose that public authorities, co-workers, local communities and other collectives of persons should own and run institutions and companies. ... A democratic economy means a democratic work life as well. The work place should be characterized by democracy, and the employees must have a constitutional right to decisive influence on the organization of work in the workplace.<ref name="principprogrammet"/></blockquote>
The Red–Green Alliance recognizes that methods achieving this may differ depending on the course of class struggle, but will eventually require a revolution—one that must be supported by a majority of the population manifested through democratic and free elections.<ref name="principprogrammet"/> The party often adopts particular views in relation to the other parties in the Folketing and opt out of many of the settlements reached, seen as an expression of class collaboration. Until the conditions for the party's long-term goal are presented, the party will use its seats in parliament to vote for any improvement and against any deterioration of working-class people's lives. In line with this, the party agreed at its national conference in 2010 that if Helle Thorning-Schmidt became Prime Minister after the 2011 election, the party would vote for a "red" budget bill that did not contain obvious flaws.
== Policies == === Social policy === The party places great emphasis on the fight against social inequality and poverty, and is in favour of strengthening and expanding the welfare state. The party believes there is a place in society for all forms of diversity, including gender, sexuality, disability and ethnic background.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.enhedslisten.dk/plads-til-alle|title=Plads til alle|work=Enhedslisten|access-date=25 February 2015|archive-date=6 July 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100706210656/http://enhedslisten.dk/plads-til-alle|url-status=dead}}</ref> It also advocates for a larger public sector, among other things, to improve quality of life for public sector employees.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.enhedslisten.dk/flere-h%C3%A6nder-mere-i-l%C3%B8n|title=Flere hænder, mere i løn|work=Enhedslisten|access-date=25 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610205735/http://enhedslisten.dk/flere-h%c3%a6nder-mere-i-l%c3%b8n|archive-date=10 June 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> The party believes people should be free to choose when they want to get an education and is opposed to tuition fees, which they believe harm opportunities for everyone to acquire an education.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.enhedslisten.dk/b%C3%B8rn-og-uddannelse|title=Børn og uddannelse|work=Enhedslisten|access-date=25 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610214923/http://enhedslisten.dk/b%c3%b8rn-og-uddannelse|archive-date=10 June 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> The party does not see unemployment as being equal to laziness and seeks to abolish the Danish equivalent of workfare.<ref name="Ulighed">{{cite web|url=http://www.enhedslisten.dk/ulighed-og-fattigdom|title=Ulighed og fattigdom|work=Enhedslisten|access-date=25 February 2015|archive-date=1 July 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100701152235/http://enhedslisten.dk/ulighed-og-fattigdom|url-status=dead}}</ref>
=== Economic policy === The party is decisively anti-capitalist and has particularly distinguished itself as an opponent of transfer pricing, whereby multinational companies minimise the amount they pay in tax by attributing their profits to countries with lower tax rates. In response to the Great Recession of 2007–2009, the Red–Green Alliance urged stricter control of loans, the introduction of a Tobin tax, and the nationalisation of banks and mortgage companies. It also believes that the public sector must be expanded, the wages of the lowest-paid workers raised, and that the insurance-based unemployment benefit period should be extended to a minimum of four years. At the same time, it believes that students should be given a greater grant to be used in state education.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.enhedslisten.dk/velf%C3%A6rd-til-alle |title=Velfærd til alle |access-date=20 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100717225420/http://enhedslisten.dk/velf%C3%A6rd-til-alle |archive-date=17 July 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref> At minimum, all benefits should be raised to 13,500 kroner per month before taxes.<ref name="Ulighed" />
=== Foreign policy === The party advocates for foreign policy based on the respect for human rights, which it believes has never been appropriately prioritised in the past. It also proposes greater support for developing countries through a doubling of foreign aid,<ref>{{cite web |title=Partier |website=Folketinget |date=4 May 2016 |url=https://www.ft.dk/partier |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20190618183940/https://www.ft.dk/partier |archive-date=18 June 2019 |url-status=dead |language=da |access-date=22 November 2025}}</ref> and campaigns for Denmark's withdrawal from NATO. In March 2019, the party announced it would no longer campaign for a referendum to leave the EU, pointing to Brexit illustrating the need for clarity before withdrawal can be considered.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hvass |first1=Jesper |last2=Rytgaard |first2=Nikolaj |title=Enhedslisten parkerer krav om dansk udmeldelse af EU efter britisk kaos |url=https://jyllands-posten.dk/indland/ECE11250051/enhedslisten-parkerer-krav-om-dansk-udmeldelse-af-eu-efter-britisk-kaos/ |access-date=15 March 2019 |newspaper=Jyllands-Posten |date=15 March 2019 |language=da |archive-date=14 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190314202608/https://jyllands-posten.dk/indland/ECE11250051/enhedslisten-parkerer-krav-om-dansk-udmeldelse-af-eu-efter-britisk-kaos/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
The party operates on the fundamental belief that peace is preferable to war, and opposed to Denmark's participation in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan from the onset of them. That principle was challenged in 2011, when the party's parliamentary group voted in favour of Denmark's participation in the United Nations-sanctioned military action in Libya on the basis that it was a humanitarian action.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.enhedslisten.dk/artikel/enhedslisten-stemmer-humanit%C3%A6r-aktion-i-libyen|title=Enhedslisten stemmer for humanitær aktion i Libyen|work=Enhedslisten|access-date=25 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610224225/http://enhedslisten.dk/artikel/enhedslisten-stemmer-humanit%c3%a6r-aktion-i-libyen|archive-date=10 June 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> However, the decision led to significant backlash, and the party's support was pulled back after the military intervention began.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dr.dk/Nyheder/Politik/2011/03/30/144018.htm|title=Enhedslisten trækker støtten til Libyen-krigen|author=Oliver Routhe Skov og Turi Kjestine Meyhoff|date=30 March 2011|access-date=25 February 2015|archive-date=1 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110401101308/http://www.dr.dk/Nyheder/Politik/2011/03/30/144018.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> The party is outspoken in support of Palestinians' right to self-determination, amidst the Gaza genocide.<ref>{{Cite web |last=By |title=Across Europe, Gaza Has Become a Litmus Test for the Left |url=https://jacobin.com/2024/08/europe-gaza-israel-left-litmus |access-date=2026-03-25 |website=jacobin.com |language=en-US}}</ref> Through its membership of the European Left Alliance for the People and the Planet, it supports the European Citizens' Initiative 'Justice for Palestine', which demands the European Union to suspend the EU–Israel Association Agreement.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Justice for Palestine {{!}} Stop EU trade with criminals {{!}} European Citizens' Initiative campaign |url=https://www.justiceforpalestine.eu/ |access-date=2026-03-25 |website=Justice for Palestine |language=en}}</ref>
== History == thumb|Election posters, including Red–Green Alliance, at the parliamentary elections in 2007. The party was formed in 1989 as an electoral alliance of three left-wing parties: Left Socialists (VS), Communist Party of Denmark (DKP), and Socialist Workers Party (SAP). Originally the plan was to unite these parties alongside The Greens (De Grønne), Common Course, and Humanist to form a broad-based progressive movement, but this did not materialize.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.enhedslisten.dk/enhedslistens-historie|title=Enhedslistens historie|work=Enhedslisten|access-date=25 February 2015|archive-date=19 September 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100919224325/http://enhedslisten.dk/enhedslistens-historie|url-status=dead}}</ref> A fourth party, the Communist Workers Party (KAP), succeeded in joining the alliance in 1991, but its involvement was vetoed a year later by DKP.
Prior to the 2007 Danish general election, the party nominated Asmaa Abdol-Hamid, a Muslim candidate who was noted for her support from imams, and her refusal to shake hands with men.<ref name="krist">[http://www.kristeligt-dagblad.dk/artikel/251058:Kirke---tro--Imamer-anbefaler-Asmaa Imamer anbefaler Asmaa] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219041947/http://www.kristeligt-dagblad.dk/artikel/251058:Kirke---tro--Imamer-anbefaler-Asmaa |date=19 December 2013 }}, Kristeligt Dagblad, 1 May 2007</ref><ref name="GUARDIAN">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2007/may/16/religion.uk|title=Feminist, socialist, devout Muslim: woman who has thrown Denmark into turmoil|date=16 May 2007|access-date=20 November 2013|newspaper=The Guardian|archive-date=19 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219033045/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2007/may/16/religion.uk|url-status=live}}</ref> These facts, and some of her statements regarding politics and religion, made her the target of some criticism across the political spectrum, particularly from the Danish People's Party. Some left-wing figures cited her candidacy as a reason for withdrawing their support from the party.<ref name="info">[http://information.dk/145342 Kære Asmaa] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807161800/http://information.dk/145342 |date=7 August 2011 }}, Information, 1 September 2007</ref> An anti-religious network was created within the party with the stated goal of turning the party into a solely atheist party with a materialist–Marxist basis.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ritzau |first= |date=2007-09-20 |title=Religionskrig i Enhedslisten |trans-title=Religion war in the Unity List |url=https://jyllands-posten.dk/politik/ECE3334961/Religionskrig-i-Enhedslisten/ |access-date=2026-03-18 |website=Jyllands-Posten |language=da}}</ref> During the campaign, there was some speculation as to whether her candidacy would attract or repel voters.<ref name="Politiken">[http://politiken.dk/politik/article414858.ece Asmaa kan sprænge Enh's partiliste i København] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071204132901/http://politiken.dk/politik/article414858.ece |date=4 December 2007 }}, Politiken, 2 November 2007</ref><ref name="Politiken2">[http://politiken.dk/politik/article412913.ece Ekspert: Asmaa har skræmt marxisterne] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071203090847/http://politiken.dk/politik/article412913.ece |date=3 December 2007 }}, Politiken, 1 November 2007</ref> The results of the election were 2.2% for the party, down from 3.4% in the 2005 Danish general election. Although not elected, Abdol-Hamid maintained that she had attracted voters to the party. The four seats won by the party went to Frank Aaen, Johanne Schmidt-Nielsen, Line Barfod, and Per Clausen.
In the 2011 Danish general election, the party received 6.7% of the vote and tripled its representation from 4 seats to 12 seats. This was attributed to the unpopular decision of the Socialist People's Party to enter a governing coalition, with left-wing voters being attracted to the Red-Green Alliance instead. The party contested the 2013 local elections on a platform of improving public transport and making greater public investment.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cphpost.dk/local-elections-13/party-profile-enhedslisten|title=Party profile: Enhedslisten|date=9 November 2013|access-date=20 November 2013|archive-date=23 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131123134336/http://www.cphpost.dk/local-elections-13/party-profile-enhedslisten|url-status=live}}</ref> As part of the left-leaning "Red bloc" coalition with the Social Democrats, the Red–Green Alliance accepted the government budget twice and was in opposition twice in the period from 2011 to 2015, but at no point did they report direct opposition to the government. In the 2015 general election, the party received 7.8% of the vote and increased its representation from 12 to 14 seats. For the 2019 European Parliament election, the party voted in a landmark decision to stand a candidate, having hitherto endorsed the People's Movement against the EU. The Red-Green Alliance's Nikolaj Villumsen won a seat at the expense of the People's Movement, and sat with The Left in the European Parliament The Socialist Youth Front ceased co-operation with the Red-Green Alliance in 2025, citing the party's 'moderation', growing nationalism and acceptance of Denmark's position in NATO.<ref>{{Cite web |title=SUF stopper samarbejdsaftalen med Enhedslisten |url=https://ungdomsfront.dk/aktuelle-udtalelser-1/suf-stopper-samarbejdsaftalen-med-enhedslisten |access-date=2026-03-24 |website=SOCIALISTISK UNGDOMSFRONT |language=da-DK}}</ref> In the 2026 general election, the party increased from 9 to 11 seats.
== Organization ==
=== Leadership === The party is the only one in the Folketing which does not have an official party leader, instead having collective leadership. However, since 2009 it has had a political spokesperson, who has served as the party's ''de facto'' representative, and serves as its leader in party leader debates.<ref>{{Cite web |date=22 August 2023 |title=Pelle Dragsted bliver ny politisk ordfører for Enhedslisten |url=https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/politik/pelle-dragsted-bliver-ny-politisk-ordfoerer-enhedslisten |access-date=23 August 2023 |website=DR |language=da-DK}}</ref>
==== List of political spokespersons ==== * Johanne Schmidt-Nielsen (2009–2016) * Pernille Skipper (2016–2021) * Mai Villadsen (2021–2023) * Pelle Dragsted (2023–present)
=== Elected representatives ===
==== 2022 general election ==== * Jette Gottlieb * Peder Hvelplund * Rosa Lund * Søren Egge Rasmussen * Søren Søndergaard * Victoria Velásquez * Mai Villadsen * Pelle Dragsted * Trine Mach
=== Membership === {| class=wikitable !Year||Membership||Change |- |1992||align=right|1,082|| align="right" | – |- |1993||align=right|999||align=right| -7.7% |- |1994||align=right|1,093|| align="right" | +9.4% |- |1995||align=right|1,189|| align="right" | +8.8% |- |1996||align=right|1,282|| align="right" | +7.8% |- |1997||align=right|1,479|| align="right" | +15.4% |- |1998||align=right|2,023|| align="right" | +36.8% |- |1999||align=right|1,968|| align="right" | -2.7% |- |2000||align=right|1,945|| align="right" | -1.1% |- |2001||align=right|1,992|| align="right" | +2.4% |- |2002||align=right|2,366|| align="right" | +18.8% |- |2003||align=right|2,321|| align="right" | -1.9% |- |2004||align=right|2,524|| align="right" | +8.7% |- |2005||align=right|3,739|| align="right" | +48.1% |- |2006||align=right|4,127|| align="right" | +10.4% |- |2007||align=right|4,099|| align="right" | -0.7% |- |2008||align=right|4,330|| align="right" | +5.6% |- |2009||align=right|4,373|| align="right" | +1.0% |- |2010||align=right|4,553|| align="right" | +4.1% |- |2011||align=right|7,714|| align="right" | +51.0% |- |2012||align=right|9,385|| align="right" | +21.7% |- |2013||align=right|9,483|| align="right" | +1.0% |- |2014||align=right|9,023|| align="right" | -4.9% |- |2015||align=right|9,504|| align="right" | +5.3% |- |2016||align=right|9,335|| align="right" | -1.8% |- |2017||align=right|9,015|| align="right" | -3.4% |- |2018||align=right|8,936|| align="right" | -3.4% |- |2019||align=right|9,662|| align="right" | +8.1% |}
==Election results==
===Parliament=== {|class="wikitable" style="text-align:right;" |- ! Election ! Votes ! % ! Seats ! +/– ! Government |- ! 1990 | 54,038 | 1.7 (#10) | {{Composition bar|0|179|hex={{Political party data|color}}}} | {{steady}} 0 | {{no|Extra-parliamentary}} |- ! 1994 | 104,701 | 3.1 (#7) | {{Composition bar|6|179|hex={{Political party data|color}}}} | {{increase}} 6 | {{no2|Opposition}} |- ! 1998 | 91,933 | 2.7 (#8) | {{Composition bar|5|179|hex={{Political party data|color}}}} | {{decrease}} 1 | {{partial2|External support}} |- ! 2001 | 82,685 | 2.4 (#7) | {{Composition bar|4|179|hex={{Political party data|color}}}} | {{decrease}} 1 | {{no2|Opposition}} |- ! 2005 | 114,123 | 3.4 (#7) | {{Composition bar|6|179|hex={{Political party data|color}}}} | {{increase}} 2 | {{no2|Opposition}} |- ! 2007 | 74,982 | 2.2 (#8) | {{Composition bar|4|179|hex={{Political party data|color}}}} | {{decrease}} 2 | {{no2|Opposition}} |- ! 2011 | 236,860 | 6.7 (#6) | {{Composition bar|12|179|hex={{Political party data|color}}}} | {{increase}} 8 | {{partial2|External support}} |- ! 2015 | 274,463 | 7.8 (#4) | {{Composition bar|14|179|hex={{Political party data|color}}}} | {{increase}} 2 | {{no2|Opposition}} |- ! 2019 | 244,664 | 6.9 (#6) | {{Composition bar|13|179|hex={{Political party data|color}}}} | {{decrease}} 1 | {{partial2|External support}} |- ! 2022 | 181,452 | 5.1 (#8) | {{Composition bar|9|179|hex={{Political party data|color}}}} | {{decrease}} 4 | {{no2|Opposition}} |- ! 2026 | 226,037 | 6.3 (#8) | {{Composition bar|11|179|hex={{Political party data|color}}}} | {{increase}} 2 | {{TBA}} |}
Red–Green Alliance tends to have a higher vote share in large urban areas, especially in the Copenhagen Municipality. In the 2022 Danish general election, it became the largest party in 4 nomination districts of the municipality, namely Inner City, Nørrebro, Bispebjerg and Vesterbro. The party is much more weakly positioned in rural parts of Denmark, having received only 2.9% of the vote outside the municipalities of the three largest cities.<ref>{{Cite web |title=FOLKETINGSVALG TIRSDAG 1. NOVEMBER 2022 {{!}} Nyheder |url=https://www.dst.dk/valg/Valg1968094/valgopg/valgopg.htm |access-date=9 June 2023 |website=dst.dk |language=da-DK}}</ref>
===Local elections=== {| |valign="top"| ;Municipal elections {| class="wikitable" width="250px" style="text-align: center" !rowspan="2"|Year !colspan="2"|Seats |- ! # ! ± |- ! 1993 | {{Composition bar|6|4703|{{Political party data|color}}}} |''New'' |- ! 1997 | {{Composition bar|14|4685|{{Political party data|color}}}} |{{increase}} 8 |- ! 2001 | {{Composition bar|11|4647|{{Political party data|color}}}} |{{decrease}} 3 |- |colspan=3|Municipal reform |- ! 2005 | {{Composition bar|24|2522|{{Political party data|color}}}} |{{increase}} 13 |- ! 2009 | {{Composition bar|14|2468|{{Political party data|color}}}} |{{decrease}} 10 |- ! 2013 | {{Composition bar|119|2444|{{Political party data|color}}}} |{{increase}} 105 |- ! 2017 | {{Composition bar|102|2432|{{Political party data|color}}}} |{{decrease}} 17 |- ! 2021 | {{Composition bar|114|2436|{{Political party data|color}}}} |{{increase}} 12 |- ! 2025 | {{Composition bar|111|2436|{{Political party data|color}}}} |{{decrease}} 3 |}
|width="33"| |valign="top"| ;Regional elections {| class="wikitable" width="280px" style="text-align: center" |- !rowspan="2"|Year !colspan="2"|Seats |- ! # ! ± |- ! 1993 | {{Composition bar|1|374|{{Political party data|color}}}} |''New'' |- ! 1997 | {{Composition bar|2|374|{{Political party data|color}}}} |{{increase}} 1 |- ! 2001 | {{Composition bar|2|374|{{Political party data|color}}}} |{{steady}} 0 |- |colspan=3|Municipal reform |- ! 2005 | {{Composition bar|6|205|{{Political party data|color}}}} |{{increase}} 4 |- ! 2009 | {{Composition bar|2|205|{{Political party data|color}}}} |{{decrease}} 4 |- ! 2013 | {{Composition bar|15|205|{{Political party data|color}}}} |{{increase}} 13 |- ! 2017 | {{Composition bar|12|205|{{Political party data|color}}}} |{{decrease}} 3 |- ! 2021 | {{Composition bar|14|205|{{Political party data|color}}}} |{{increase}} 2 |- ! 2025 | {{Composition bar|8|205|{{Political party data|color}}}} |{{decrease}} 6 |} |}
===European Parliament=== Prior to 2016, the Red–Green Alliance never directly contested elections to the European Parliament, preferring to support the People's Movement against the EU. Today, the party sits in The Left in the European Parliament – GUE/NGL group. Some of the party's MPs considered running an independent list for the 2014 elections,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://ekstrabladet.dk/nyheder/politik/danskpolitik/article1944301.ece|title=Red–Green Alliance puts pressure to People's Movement Against the EU|date=27 March 2013|newspaper=Ekstra Bladet|access-date=21 May 2016|language=da}}</ref> but this idea was dismissed by a majority in the party's yearly meeting.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.b.dk/politiko/enhedslisten-dropper-at-stille-op-til-eu-valget|title=Red–Green Alliance scraps EU election run|date=27 April 2013|newspaper=Berlingske|access-date=21 May 2016|language=da}}</ref> In a historic decision in the party's yearly meeting in May 2016, a majority decided to directly contest the 2019 European Parliament election.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dr.dk/nyheder/politik/enhedslisten-stiller-selvstaendigt-op-til-naeste-eu-valg|title=Red–Green Alliance will run independently in the next European Parliament election|date=15 May 2016|publisher=Danmarks Radio|access-date=21 May 2016|language=da|archive-date=19 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160519124319/http://www.dr.dk/nyheder/politik/enhedslisten-stiller-selvstaendigt-op-til-naeste-eu-valg|url-status=live}}</ref> The 2024–2029 MEP is Per Clausen.<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 February 1955 |title=Home {{!}} Per CLAUSEN {{!}} MEPs {{!}} European Parliament |url=https://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/257023/PER_CLAUSEN/home |access-date=8 September 2024 |website=www.europarl.europa.eu |language=en}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" ! Year ! List leader ! Votes ! % ! Seats ! +/– ! EP Group |- ! 2019 | Nikolaj Villumsen | 151,903 | 5.51 (#7) | {{Composition bar|1|14|{{Political party data|color}}}} | New | rowspan=2| The Left |- ! 2024 | Per Clausen | 172,287 | 7.04 (#7) | {{Composition bar|1|15|{{Political party data|color}}}} | {{Steady}} 0 |}
== Notes == {{notelist}}
== See also == * List of political parties in Denmark * Pelle Dragsted * Politics of Denmark
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == * {{in lang|da}} [https://www.enhedslisten.dk/ Official website]
{{Danish political parties}} {{European Left Alliance for the People and the Planet}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Red-Green Alliance (Denmark)}} Category:1989 establishments in Denmark Category:Eco-socialist parties Category:Political parties established in 1989 Category:Party of the European Left member parties Category:Socialist parties in Denmark Category:Eurosceptic parties in Denmark Category:Anti-capitalist political parties Category:Green political parties in Denmark Category:Nordic Green Left Alliance