1981 Danish general election

General elections were held in Denmark on 8 December 1981.^[1] The election was followed by a two-week crisis over the formation of a new government before the Social Democratic Party resumed its minority government.^[2]

1981 Danish general election

← 1979 8 December 1981 1984 →
All 179 seats in the Folketing 90 seats needed for a majority
Turnout	83.26%
Party Leader Vote % Seats +/– Social Democrats Anker Jørgensen 32.87 59 −9 Conservatives Poul Schlüter 14.45 26 +4 SF Gert Petersen 11.31 21 +10 Venstre Henning Christophersen 11.31 20 −2 Progress Mogens Glistrup 8.91 16 −4 Centre Democrats Erhard Jakobsen 8.28 15 +9 Social Liberals Niels Helveg Petersen 5.12 9 −1 Left Socialists Collective leadership 2.65 5 −1 KrF Christian Christensen 2.31 4 −1 Elected in the Faroe Islands Union Pauli Ellefsen 26.44 1 0 Social Democratic Atli Dam 24.49 1 0 Elected in Greenland Atassut Lars Chemnitz 48.86 1 0 Siumut Jonathan Motzfeldt 37.75 1 0 This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below. Most voted-for party by nomination district and constituency Most voted-for party by municipality Distribution of constituency and levelling seats Prime Minister before Prime Minister-elect Anker Jørgensen Social Democrats Anker Jørgensen Social Democrats

The Social Democratic Party lost several seats but remained the largest party in the Folketing, with 59 of the 179 seats.

Voter turnout was 83% in Denmark proper, 55% in the Faroe Islands and 61% in Greenland.^[3]

Results

Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
Denmark proper
	Social Democrats	1,026,726	32.87	59	–9
	Conservative People's Party	451,478	14.45	26	+4
	Socialist People's Party	353,373	11.31	21	+10
	Venstre	353,280	11.31	20	–2
	Progress Party	278,383	8.91	16	–4
	Centre Democrats	258,522	8.28	15	+9
	Danish Social Liberal Party	160,053	5.12	9	–1
	Left Socialists	82,711	2.65	5	–1
	Christian People's Party	72,174	2.31	4	–1
	Justice Party of Denmark	45,174	1.45	0	–5
	Communist Party of Denmark	34,625	1.11	0	0
	Communist Workers Party	4,223	0.14	0	0
	Socialist Workers Party	2,034	0.07	0	New
	Independents	807	0.03	0	0
Total		3,123,563	100.00	175	0
Valid votes		3,123,563	99.37
Invalid/blank votes		19,881	0.63
Total votes		3,143,444	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		3,775,333	83.26
Faroe Islands
	Union Party	4,393	26.44	1	0
	Social Democratic Party	4,070	24.49	1	0
	Republican Party	3,441	20.71	0	0
	People's Party	3,073	18.49	0	0
	Self-Government	867	5.22	0	0
	Progress and Fisheries Party	773	4.65	0	0
Total		16,617	100.00	2	0
Valid votes		16,617	99.53
Invalid/blank votes		79	0.47
Total votes		16,696	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		30,127	55.42
Greenland
	Atassut	9,223	48.86	1	0
	Siumut	7,126	37.75	1	0
	Independents	2,529	13.40	0	New
Total		18,878	100.00	2	0
Valid votes		18,878	95.33
Invalid/blank votes		925	4.67
Total votes		19,803	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		32,466	61.00
Source: Nohlen & Stöver