NUUK, Greenland
NUUK, Greenland: The center-right Demokraatit Party secured the most votes in Greenland’s parliamentary elections, an unexpected outcome as the territory cast its votes under the shadow of U.S. President Donald Trump’s stated goal of taking control of the island.
Both Demokraatit (the Democrats) and the second-place party, Naleraq (“Point of Orientation”), support independence from Denmark but differ in their approaches to achieving it. Demokraatit’s surprising victory over long-standing governing parties suggests that many Greenlanders prioritize issues such as health care, education, cultural heritage, and other social policies just as much as independence.
“I think this is a historic result in Greenland’s political history,” Demokraatit party leader Jens-Frederik Nielsen said at the election party after the results were announced. Greenlandic newspaper Sermitsiaq noted that Nielsen, 33, appeared surprised by his party’s success, with photos capturing him grinning and applauding during the celebration.
According to the Danish Broadcasting Corporation (DR), Nielsen stated that his party would engage with all other parties to negotiate Greenland’s political direction. “We had not expected that the election would have this outcome,” he told Greenlandic Broadcasting Corporation KNR TV. “We are very happy.”
Nielsen also emphasized the need for unity amid growing international interest in Greenland. “We need to stand together in a time of great interest from outside,” KNR TV reported him as saying.
NUUK, Greenland
Prime Minister Mute Bourup Egede had called for an early election in February, citing the need for national unity during what he described as a “serious time” unlike anything Greenland had previously experienced. Following the results, Egede thanked voters in a Facebook post and confirmed that the parties were prepared to enter negotiations to form a new government.
Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen congratulated Demokraatit and noted that Greenland’s next government would likely have to navigate “massive pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump,” according to DR. He stressed that “it’s not the case that you can just take part of the Danish Realm — the future of Greenland is based on what the Greenlandic people and government want.”
Trump has been vocal about his desire to control Greenland, recently telling a joint session of Congress that he believed the U.S. would acquire the territory “one way or the other.”
As a self-governing region of Denmark, Greenland occupies a strategic position along key air and sea routes in the North Atlantic and possesses significant rare earth mineral deposits, which are crucial for industries ranging from mobile phones to renewable energy technology.
Before the election, Egede’s party, Inuit Ataqatigiit (United Inuit), had been expected to win, followed closely by Siumut. These two parties have traditionally dominated Greenlandic politics. While independence was not explicitly on the ballot, it remained at the forefront of discussions. The island, home to 56,000 people, has been progressing toward independence since at least 2009. The 31 newly elected lawmakers will play a crucial role in shaping Greenland’s future as the debate over independence continues.
Four of the five major parties in the election supported independence but differed on the timeline and approach. Naleraq has taken the most aggressive stance on the issue, while Demokraatit advocates for a more gradual transition.
“What approach to independence will win the day will ultimately depend on if Demokraatit decides to form a coalition government, and if so, with which party,” said Dwayne Menezes, managing director of the Polar Research and Policy Initiative.