Denmark is entering a significant political turning point with early parliamentary elections held today. In the election, where a total of 179 members of parliament will be determined, 175 seats will be elected from Denmark, 2 from Greenland and 2 from the Faroe Islands.
This election will determine not only economic policies, but also the future of critical issues such as migration, international relations and social cohesion.
However, there is another important dimension to these elections: how the 60-year journey of Kurds in Denmark will be reflected in national politics.
The new generation will be decisive
Kurds who arrived in Denmark with labour migration that began in the late 1960s have today become not only a migrant community, but an organised, educated and politically conscious diaspora.
The success achieved in local elections was the most concrete indication of this process. Kurdish candidates secured strong representation in municipalities, showing that they are no longer outside the system, but a decisive actor within it.
However, general elections are based on a different reality. In this election, only those with Danish citizenship are able to vote. This means that a significant portion of Kurds who arrived in the past 20 years will be excluded from the election.
Therefore, the decisive electorate will be the new generation of voters who were born and raised in Denmark.
Focus of the election
Among the Kurdish candidates in this election, Ibrahim Benli stands out as one of the most prominent figures. Benli’s candidacy is not only an individual race; it is also seen as a critical test for Kurdish representation in national politics. As a candidate of Enhedslisten (Unity List), Benli comes to the fore with his strong local recognition, his direct connection with voters and his party’s influence in major cities.
However, this is not the only factor that will determine the outcome. In Denmark’s electoral system, the most critical element is personal (preferential) votes. For this reason, the list order alone is not decisive, and no candidate’s election is guaranteed. What determines the result is the direct choice of the voter. This situation places a clear responsibility on Kurdish voters. Votes should be cast not for the party, but directly for the candidate. The presence of more than one Kurdish candidate in the same region increases the risk of vote splitting. Therefore, concentrating around the candidate with the highest chance of winning will be strategic behaviour that could determine the election result.
Many Kurdish candidates from different parties are also competing in this election. This reflects the diversity of the Kurdish community in Danish politics.
Among the prominent names are Hediye Temiz and Esat Şentürk (Radikale Venstre), Fatih Baran (Enhedslisten), Taner Genç (Socialist People’s Party), Zeynep Bardakcı (Venstre), Halime Oğuz (Socialist People’s Party) and Ayhan Kılıç (Moderaterne).
These candidates, running from different parties, demonstrate that the Kurdish community is now represented not within a single political line, but across a broad spectrum.
Women and youth as the decisive force of the election
One of the most striking changes in this election is the growing influence of women and young voters. Political parties aim to create a more balanced representation in parliament by placing women candidates higher on their lists and opening more space for young candidates.
Young voters in particular are expected to be more active and decisive on issues such as climate policies, social justice, migration, and equality. This indicates that the election results may take shape beyond the traditional left–right balance.
Another factor that will determine the success of candidates in this election is their capacity to reach a broad electorate through the Danish language.
Because this struggle is no longer only about identity, but also about representation and communication.
Two different paths
The election campaign is taking shape around two main political approaches. The left bloc adopts a framework focused on strengthening the welfare state, expanding social services, environmental and climate policies, and a more inclusive approach to migration; while the right bloc concentrates on tax cuts, private sector-driven growth, limiting migration and strengthening security policies.
This division stands out as one of the main axes shaping voter preferences.
Power and reality of the diaspora
The Kurdish diaspora in Denmark has an organised and conscious structure. This electorate is expected to use its votes largely in an accurate and effective way. However, there is also a segment that does not go to the polls, remains distant from politics, and feels hopeless.
Mobilising this segment could directly affect the election result.
Kurds demonstrated that they are a strong actor in local elections.
However, today’s elections will determine whether this strength can be carried into the national parliament.
For this reason, this election is not only a test for the candidates, but also for the political awareness and strategic capacity of Kurdish voters. And the clearest reality of this election is this: it is not the list of order, but the preferential vote that will determine the outcome.
Source: Yeni Özgür Politika