Political parties

This list of political parties is meant to help the reader find more easily her or his way through the jungle of political parties in the Scandinavian countries. It does not pretend to be a complete account of Scandinavia's political history, and for practical reasons, much information about shifting names and party splits has been omitted. For a more comprehensive account of the Scandinavian party system, see Grofman and Lijphart 2002.

Denmark

Socialist parties

Centre Democrats (Centrumdemokraterne, CD). Founded in 1973 by right-wing Social Democrats. Dismantled in 2008. Represented in the Folketing 1973–2001.

Left Socialist Party (Venstresocialisterne, VS). Founded in 1967. Dismantled in 1998. Represented in the Folketing 1968–1971, 1975–1987.

Red-Green Alliance (Enhedslisten ‒ De Rod-Gronne). Founded in 1989. Represented in the Folketing since 1994. Merger of the Danish Communist Party, The Left Socialist Party, and the Socialist Worker's Party. LGBT issues and diversity high on the agenda.

Socialist People's Party (SF ‒ Socialistisk Folkeparti). Founded as a splinter group from the Danish Communist Party in 1958, in protest against the DCP's close contacts with Moscow. Represented in the Folketing since 1958.

Social Democrats (Socialdemokraterne). Founded in 1871. Represented in the Folketing since 1884.

Liberal parties

Radical Left Party (Radikale Venstre, RV). Left-of-centre liberals. Founded in 1905 as a splinter group from the Left Party over the issue of defence spendings. Represented in the Folketing since 1905.

Centre parties

Left Party, Denmark's Liberal Party (Venstre, Danmarks liberale parti), right-of-centre liberals. Founded in 1870. Represented in the Folketing since 1870.

Conservative parties

Conservative People's Party (Konservative Folkeparti). Founded in 1915. Represented in the Folketing since 1915.

Christian democratic parties

Christian Democratic Party (Kristendemokraterne, KD, before 2003 Kristeligt Folkeparti). Founded in 1970. Represented in the Folketing 1973–1994, 1998–2005.

Right-wing populist parties

Progress Party (Fremskridtspartiet, FrP). Founded in 1972. Represented in the Folketing 1973–1999.

Danish People's Party (Dansk Folkeparti). Founded in 1995 by Progress Party MPs. Represented in the Folketing since 1995.