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| President of the Folketing | |
|---|---|
| Post | President of the Folketing |
| Native name | Formand for Folketinget |
| Body | Folketing |
| Incumbent | Søren Gade |
| Incumbentsince | 2024 |
| Style | Mr./Madam President |
| Status | Presiding officer |
| Seat | Christiansborg Palace |
| Appointer | Elected by Folketing |
| Termlength | Four years (maximum) |
| Formation | 1849 |
| First | Frederik Zimmer |
President of the Folketing is the presiding officer of the Folketing, the national legislature of the Kingdom of Denmark. The office combines procedural leadership, representational functions and administrative oversight within Christiansborg Palace, interacting with the Monarchy of Denmark, the Prime Minister of Denmark, and parliamentary groups such as Venstre (Denmark), Social Democrats (Denmark), and Danish People's Party. The holder plays a central role during the formation of cabinets after national elections such as the 2019 election and during national crises involving institutions like the Danish Parliament Security and the Constitution of Denmark.
The post presides over debates in the Folketing chamber, enforces rules derived from the Constitution of Denmark, and represents the legislature before external bodies including the Queen and foreign delegations from states such as Sweden, Germany, United Kingdom, United States and institutions like the European Parliament, United Nations and NATO. The holder liaises with party leaders from Socialist People's Party (Denmark), Conservative People's Party (Denmark), Radikale Venstre, The Alternative (Denmark), and regional representatives from Greenland and Faroe Islands. The office also oversees procedural committees including the Folketing Administration and committees dealing with legislation influenced by laws like the Act on Parliamentary Immunity.
The President is elected by Members of the Folketing at the first meeting following a Danish general election or upon vacancy, using voting procedures set out in the chamber’s standing orders and the Constitution of Denmark. Candidates are typically nominated by party groups such as Social Democrats (Denmark), Venstre (Denmark), Danish Social Liberal Party, and New Right (Denmark), and the vote can involve multiple ballots similar to practices in parliaments like the Storting of Norway and the Riksdag of Sweden. The term lasts until the next dissolution of the Folketing or resignation, comparable to terms in bodies such as the House of Commons and the Bundestag.
The President enforces standing orders, grants speaking time to representatives from parties including Red–Green Alliance and Liberal Alliance (Denmark), and decides procedural questions that affect committees such as the Finance Committee (Folketing) and the Foreign Policy Committee. The office has authority over agendas, voting procedures including roll-call votes, and certification of adopted acts prior to transmission to the Monarchy of Denmark for promulgation. In exceptional situations the President may coordinate with the Prime Minister of Denmark, the Lord President of the Council (historical), or with judicial bodies such as the Supreme Court of Denmark on matters of privilege and immunity.
The presidency traces to the adoption of the 1849 Constitution and evolved across periods including the Second Schleswig War, the German occupation and post-war democratization influenced by international frameworks like the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Council of Europe. Prominent historical bearers include figures affiliated with Højre (Denmark), Det Radikale Venstre and the modern Social Democrats (Denmark). Institutional reforms in the 20th century altered relations with the Monarchy of Denmark and introduced administrative modernization paralleling changes in the European Union era, affecting interactions with treaties like the Treaty of Lisbon.
Notable presidents have included early figures from the 19th century, mid-20th century politicians who navigated crises like the Great Depression and World War II, and contemporary leaders from parties such as Venstre (Denmark), Social Democrats (Denmark), and Conservative People's Party (Denmark). The roster of presidents reflects Denmark’s parliamentary shifts seen in elections like the 1973 Landslide Election and recent contests such as the 2022 election.
The President interacts with the Monarchy of Denmark during formalities including the opening of the Folketing session and with the Prime Minister of Denmark during government formation processes that follow consultations with party leaders across groups such as Socialist People's Party (Denmark), Danish People's Party, and Greenlandic Inuit Ataqatigiit. The office coordinates with administrative bodies like the Folketing Administration, judicial organs such as the High Courts of Denmark, and international parliamentary bodies including the Nordic Council, the Inter-Parliamentary Union, and delegations to the Council of the Baltic Sea States.
The ceremonial seat is at Christiansborg Palace, where insignia include the Coat of arms of Denmark and regalia used in formal openings alongside the Royal Standard of Denmark. Protocol places the President high in the order of precedence after the Monarchy of Denmark and the Prime Minister of Denmark, participating in state ceremonies like commemorations at Rosenborg Castle or national memorials linked to events such as Constitution Day (Denmark). Office facilities also connect to archives at the Danish National Archives and ceremonial chambers used for receptions with foreign delegations from countries like France, Japan, China, Canada and regional partners such as Iceland.