Danish Prime Minister Poul Nyrup Rasmussen said Wednesday he had submitted his Social Democrat-led government's resignation to Queen Margrethe after suffering a stunning election defeat at the hands of a conservative Liberal-led coalition.
"I presented my resignation and the resignation of the government to the queen," Nyrup Rasmussen told reporters as he left the royal palace.
Tuesday's ballot brought to an end nine years of Social Democratic government in Denmark, after a bitter election debate on immigration.
The outgoing leader said his coalition, comprising the Social Democrats and the Radicals, would continue to run the country's affairs until a new government, likely to be headed by Liberal leader Anders Fogh Rasmussen, had been formed.
"I proposed to the queen that she summon the representatives of the political parties so that they may recommend to her a leader for the negotiations to build a new government," Nyrup Rasmussen said.
The eight party leaders were expected to meet individually with the monarch later Wednesday, after which the queen is expected to ask Fogh Rasmussen to lead negotiations aimed at forming a government -- Copenhagen (AFP)
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