COPENHAGEN — Lars Løkke Rasmussen's Moderate Party emerged as the kingmaker in forming Denmark's next government after Tuesday's parliamentary elections ended without a clear majority for any party or bloc. The foreign minister's centrist party is expected to decide who will lead Denmark's next government.

Neither the left-leaning bloc nor the right-leaning bloc won a majority in the 179-seat Folketing, Denmark's parliament. The Moderate Party, led by Rasmussen, has 14 lawmakers and neither bloc can form a majority without the Moderates' support.

The outgoing government resigned on Wednesday. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen will need to negotiate a deal with Rasmussen to lead a new coalition. "Come and play with us," Rasmussen said, calling on rivals to engage in negotiations.

The Moderates emerged as the only party capable of determining the next government. Rune Stubager, who co-heads the Danish National Election Study, said the Moderates will be able to force concessions from each party's campaign promises to form a centrist government. "As far as I can see it, it's not possible to form a government if all these tripwires are intact," he said. "So somebody will have to go back on a promise in order for there to be a government."

It takes 90 seats to form a majority in the Folketing. No single party won a majority in the parliament, and Denmark's proportional representation system typically produces coalition governments.

Stubager said part of the Moderates' success can be attributed to tensions involving Donald Trump and Greenland. Late last year, the Moderate Party was polling poorly. The party received a major bump from Rasmussen's diplomatic work to calm tensions with the U.S., including a trip to Washington. "Donald Trump put up a stage on which Lars Løkke could perform, and he performed well in the eyes of most Danes," he said.

The Social Democrats remained the biggest single party by some distance. Official results showed that the Social Democrats lost ground compared with the 2022 election. The Social Democrats' two partners in the outgoing government also lost ground.

Stubager said he believes Frederiksen will survive as prime minister. "Whether it will be in a new centrist coalition or a government based mostly on votes from the red bloc, that is up to the negotiations," he said.

Leaders from each party participated in a roundtable debate, and party leaders are expected to meet with King Frederik X to discuss the country's future. Nearly 84% of eligible voters cast ballots. More than 4.3 million people were eligible to vote in the election in the country of about 6 million people.