The pro-business opposition party Demokraatit won Greenland’s parliamentary election. The election was closely watched and dominated by Trump’s pledge to control the island.
Demokraatit, which favors a slow approach to independence from Denmark, secured 29.9% of the votes. This was up from 9.1% in 2021, putting them ahead of the opposition Naleraq party. Naleraq favors rapid independence and got 24.5% of the votes.
Since January, Trump has vowed to make Greenland part of the United States. He claimed it is vital to U.S. security interests, but most Greenlanders rejected this idea.
The melting ice caps in the vast island are making its resources more accessible and opening new shipping routes. This has caught Greenland up in a geopolitical race for dominance in the Arctic. Both Russia and China have intensified military activity in the region.
Demokraatit’s leader, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, said, “People want change … We want more business to finance our welfare.”
Nielsen, a former minister of industry and minerals, also stated, “We don’t want independence tomorrow, we want a good foundation.”
Nielsen will now hold talks with other parties to try and form a governing coalition.
The ruling Inuit Ataqatigiit party and its partner Siumut seek a slow path towards independence. They won a combined 36% of votes, down from 66.1% in 2021.
Prime Minister Mute Egede of the Inuit Ataqatigiit said in a Facebook post, “We respect the election outcome.” He added that he would listen to any proposals in upcoming coalition talks.
Greenland gained some autonomy in 1979 when its first parliament was formed. However, Copenhagen still controls foreign affairs, defense, and monetary policy, and provides just under $1 billion a year to the economy.
In 2009, Greenland won the right to declare full independence through a referendum. However, they have not done so out of concern living standards would drop without Denmark’s economic support.
Qupanuk Olsen, a candidate for Naleraq, said, “I strongly believe that we will very soon start to live a life more based on who we are, based on our culture, based on our own language, and start to make regulations based on us, not based on Denmark.”
Inge Olsvig Brandt, a candidate for Inuit Ataqatigiit, stated, “We don’t need the independence right now. We have too many things to work on. I think we have to work with ourselves, our history, and we are going to have a lot of healing work with us before we can take the next step.”
Voting had been extended by half an hour at some of the 72 polling stations. Some 40,500 people were eligible to vote, although the final turnout was not immediately available.
Trump’s vocal interest has shaken up the status quo. Coupled with the growing pride of the Indigenous people in their Inuit culture, it has put independence front and center in the election.
In the final debate on Greenland’s state broadcaster KNR, leaders of the five parties currently in parliament unanimously said they did not trust Trump.
Erik Jensen, leader of government coalition partner Siumut, said, “He is trying to influence us. I can understand if citizens feel insecure.”
A January poll suggested a majority of Greenland’s inhabitants support independence. However, they are divided on timing.
According to Julie Rademacher, the election campaign initially focused on anger and frustration aimed at historical wrongdoings by Denmark. Rademacher is a consultant and former advisor to Greenland’s government.
She added, “But I think the fear of the U.S. imperialist approach has lately become bigger than the anger towards Denmark.”
Reuters spoke to more than a dozen Greenlanders in Nuuk, all of whom said they favored independence. Many expressed concern that a swift transition could damage the economy and eliminate Nordic welfare services like universal healthcare and free schooling.
Tuuta Lynge-Larsen, a bank employee and Nuuk resident, said, “We don’t want to be part of the U.S. for obvious reasons; healthcare and Trump.” Lynge-Larsen added that this election was especially important, stating, “We don’t like the attention, to put it short.”
The island holds substantial natural resources, including critical minerals such as rare earths.
However, Greenland has been slow to extract them due to environmental concerns, severe weather, and China’s near-total control of the sector.
Trump initially declined to rule out military force to take control of the territory, alarming many Greenlanders. However, he later softened his stance, stating he would respect the will of the local people and was “ready to invest billions of dollars” if they joined the U.S.
Egede has stressed the island is not for sale. He has advocated for a broad coalition government to resist external pressure. In an interview aired on Danish broadcaster DR, he dismissed Trump’s offer as disrespectful, expressing willingness to cooperate with other countries instead.
Denmark’s prime minister has said Greenland is not for sale. They made it clear that it is up to the local people to decide their future.
All six main political parties support independence. However, they differ on how and when it could be achieved.
The pro-independence Naleraq party gained momentum ahead of the election. They were bolstered by U.S. interest and fresh accusations of Denmark’s historic exploitation of Greenland’s mineral wealth.
The party believes the U.S. attention strengthens Greenland’s position in secession talks with Denmark. They aim to bring a deal with Copenhagen to a vote before the next election in four years.
Click here for more World news.