DHAKA: Denmark’s opposition parties have beaten the governing coalition after a close general election.

The centre-right group led by ex-PM Lars Lokke Rasmussen beat Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt’s centre-left coalition, although her party is the largest.

Thorning-Schmidt has now stood down as Social Democratic Party leader, reports the BBC.

The right-wing, anti-immigration Danish People’s Party will become the second-largest in parliament.

With almost all votes counted, the centre-right bloc led by Rasmussen had secured the 90 seats needed to form a government in the 179-seat parliament.

Turnout was 85.8 percent, the interior ministry said.

Talks are due to begin soon on forming a cabinet, which correspondents say could take weeks.

Rasmussen wrote on Facebook that “difficult negotiations lie ahead”.

In a victory speech just before 01:30 local time (23:30 GMT), Rasmussen - who led the country between 2009 and 2011 - said: “Four years ago, we returned the keys to the PM’s office. I said at that time that they were only a loan.”

Thorning-Schmidt’s governing Social Democratic Party was the biggest party, winning at least 26.3 percent of the vote, according to Danish broadcaster DR.

BDST: 2026 HRS, JUNE 19, 2015
BD/