Denmark’s left-wing parties are facing a crisis as the ruling Social Democrats adopt increasingly right-wing stances on immigration, crime, and national identity. This shift has left parties like the Socialist People’s Party (SF), the Red-Green Alliance (Enhedslisten), the Alternative, and the Social-Liberal Party struggling to respond.

The Social Democrats’ embrace of stricter immigration policies and tougher criminal justice measures has put the left on the defensive. This was evident during a recent parliamentary debate where Social Democrat Frederik Vad challenged Enhedslisten on their appeal to voters concerned about immigration and gang violence.

The traditional left-wing response of labeling such concerns as racist or xenophobic has largely disappeared. Instead, the left seems to be hoping that the immigration debate will simply fade away.

This silence extends to other areas as well. The left has offered muted criticism of the government’s plan to double sentences for violent crimes, focusing instead on potential prison officer shortages. The left also remained notably quiet after Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen questioned whether immigrants have a human right to commit violent crimes in Denmark.

The Social Democrats’ move to the right is a calculated strategy, combining traditional welfare policies with conservative values. SF has largely followed suit on immigration, while the Social-Liberals and Enhedslisten attempt to minimize the debate.

The left is clearly uneasy about the Social Democrats’ focus on immigration and crime in the lead-up to upcoming elections. The Social Democrats recently launched a campaign highlighting crimes committed by immigrants, a tactic reminiscent of the Danish People’s Party. This strategy puts pressure on the left to decide how far they are willing to follow the Social Democrats’ lead.