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Danish PM close to poll majority Danish PM close to poll majority
(19 minutes later)
Denmark's governing coalition, led by Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen, is close to winning an absolute majority, projections say.Denmark's governing coalition, led by Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen, is close to winning an absolute majority, projections say.
TV channels predicted, with 60% of the votes counted, that Mr Rasmussen's Liberal-Conservative-led government would be one seat short of a majority. With over 95% of the votes counted, his Liberal-Conservative coalition looks one seat short of a majority.
He could depend on parliamentary support from a new party led by a Syrian-born Palestinian immigrant. Social Democrat leader Helle Thorning-Schmidt has admitted her party had failed to gain enough votes, saying: "It was not enough."
Turnout was higher than in the previous poll, held in 2005, at well over 80%.Turnout was higher than in the previous poll, held in 2005, at well over 80%.
Projections suggested the governing centre-right held an advantage over the left-wing bloc, led by the Social Democrats, but would fall one seat short of an absolute majority in the 179-member parliament, the Folketing. If the Liberal-Conservatives gain 89 seats, as looks likely, they will be one seat short of an absolute majority in the 179-member parliament, the Folketing.
'Kingmaker' Khader?'Kingmaker' Khader?
If this result is confirmed, Mr Rasmussen's minority Liberal-Conservative coalition - along with its parliamentary ally, the right-wing Danish People's Party (DPP) would need the support of the recently formed New Alliance party, led by Naser Khader, tipped to win five seats. Mr Rasmussen's minority Liberal-Conservative coalition - along with its parliamentary ally, the right-wing Danish People's Party (DPP) - may need the support of the recently formed New Alliance party, led by Naser Khader, tipped to win five seats.
Naser Khader (R) could have an important role in coalition talksNaser Khader (R) could have an important role in coalition talks
And although Mr Khader has said his choice would be to side with the current prime minister, many expect negotiations along the way.And although Mr Khader has said his choice would be to side with the current prime minister, many expect negotiations along the way.
But such a coalition including the anti-immigrant DPP and Mr Khader's party would be unstable, analysts say.But such a coalition including the anti-immigrant DPP and Mr Khader's party would be unstable, analysts say.
A tight result could even lead to a situation where the four MPs from the Faroe Islands and Greenland - the Danish dependencies in the North Atlantic - end up holding the balance of power, BBC's Julian Isherwood reports from Copenhagen. The close result could lead to a situation where the four MPs from the Faroe Islands and Greenland - the Danish dependencies in the North Atlantic - end up holding the balance of power, BBC's Julian Isherwood reports from Copenhagen.
There has been much campaign wrangling about welfare and tax reforms, immigration and the environment.There has been much campaign wrangling about welfare and tax reforms, immigration and the environment.
But all the main parties seem to agree on the core issues and campaigning has been more about who wields power than a policy change, correspondents say.But all the main parties seem to agree on the core issues and campaigning has been more about who wields power than a policy change, correspondents say.