On Tuesday, Greenland went for an election. The centre-right Democrats have defeated the governing left-wing coalition in Greenland’s election result. While a pro-U.S. party recorded its best result ever in Tuesday’s vote.
The Democrats party, a pro-business party in Greenland, has tripled its result from the previous election in 2021. The party also successfully garnered about 30 percent of the vote with all ballots counted. The party supports Greenland’s independence — but only gradually, once the self-ruling Danish territory is politically and economically more developed.
Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen congratulated the Democrats on their victory. “We look forward to working with Greenland’s future government,” Frederiksen said in a statement to Danish public broadcaster DR. He added that Copenhagen “will await the results of the negotiations that are now taking place.”
The party’s leader, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, has stated that Greenland is not for sale and rebuffed US President Donald Trump’s interest in acquiring it. He called the aggressive overtures “a threat to our political independence.”
Rise of Naleraq and Election Results
The biggest winner of the Greenland’s election is considered to be the centrist Naleraq party, which doubled its vote share in 2021. Naleraq wants a snap referendum on separating from Denmark and favors closer ties with the United States, including a potential free association agreement. This is a positive sign for the US, especially Trump. The vote share also suggests that the people have voted for the party despite knowing its stance on the US.
Meanwhile, the left-wing Inuit Ataqatigiit (IA) and center-left Siumut, which govern the island in a coalition, came in third and fourth, respectively. No party received an absolute majority.
Greenlanders went to the polls amid Trump’s repeated threats to seize the territory. The statement kicked off a geopolitical tug-of-war and thrusting the island and its sparse population of about 56,000 into the spotlight. According to he local media report, Trump’s remarks reignited the debate over Greenland’s future, including whether it should remain part of Denmark, seek full independence, or enter into an arrangement with the US. As a result, voter turnout increased significantly compared to 2021.
The Greenland’s election result saw a major boost for the ardently pro-independence and pro-cooperation with the US result signals that Greenlanders are divided about the best path forward.
Parliamentary Composition and Party Stances
About 41,000 citizens out of Greenland’s roughly 56,000 people were eligible to vote to elect 31 members to the Inatsisartut, Greenland’s parliament. According to the Qinersineq website, with 28,620 votes (out of 40,369 polled) counted, the results were as follows:
Democrats: 8,563 votes (29.9%)
Naleraq: 7,009 votes (24.5%)
Inuit Ataqatigiit (IA): 6,119 votes (21.4%)
Siumut: 4,210 votes (14.7%)
Atassut: 2,092 votes (7.3%)
Quelleq: 305 votes (1.1%)
A total of 213 candidates contested the 31-seat Inatsisartut, the Arctic island’s parliament.
Party Positions on Independence and Governance:
Inuit Ataqatigiit (IA): A left-wing party led by outgoing Prime Minister Mute Bourup Egede, IA supports Greenlandic independence and has suggested that a referendum could take place in the coming years, though not necessarily in this election cycle.
Siumut: A long-established party that has led parliament in the past. While it also supports independence, it favors a more gradual approach, focusing on economic development.
Naleraq: A strongly pro-independence party that focuses on Greenlandic cultural identity and self-determination, calling for full sovereignty.
Demokraatit (Democrats): A center-right party that prioritizes economic growth, education, and healthcare. It also advocates for independence but stresses the need for economic stability as a prerequisite.
Atassut: A liberal-conservative party that supports maintaining strong ties with Denmark. It believes the current setup, with Greenland enjoying some autonomy under Denmark, can support the island’s economic growth.
Also Read: Wild military conquest or something else? Why Donald Trump wants to acquire Greenland
Greenland’s Autonomy and Danish Support
Greenland is currently an autonomous Danish territory and has been gradually increasing its autonomy from Denmark over the years. It was granted limited self-rule in 1979, which was followed by broader self-rule in 2009. These include the right to declare independence from Denmark through a referendum.
Today, Greenland manages most of its domestic affairs, including policing and resource management. However, Denmark still oversees foreign policy and defense matters. Denmark’s financial assistance remains critical for Greenland, as Copenhagen provides an annual block grant of about $570 million, which is more than half of Greenland’s total budget and accounts for 20 percent of the island’s gross domestic product (GDP).
As Greenland navigates its future, the results of this election indicate an ongoing debate over the best course of action: a cautious, gradual approach to independence advocated by the Democrats or a more immediate push for sovereignty supported by Naleraq. With no party securing an absolute majority, coalition negotiations will play a crucial role in determining the next steps for Greenland’s government.
