Greenland Elections: Center-Right Opposition Wins
Greenland Elections: Center-Right Opposition Wins
The center-right Demokraatit Party won the most votes in Greenland’s parliamentary elections, a surprise result as the territory went to the polls in the shadow of President Donald Trump’s stated goal of taking control of the island one way or another.
Both Demokraatit — the Democrats — and the second place party, Naleraq — “Point of Orientation” — favor independence from Denmark, but they have differences on the pace of change.
Demokraatit’s upset victory over parties that have governed the territory for years indicates that many in Greenland care just as much about healthcare, education, cultural heritage and other social policies.
The unanticipated results came after huge crowds streamed into the polling station in the capital, Nuuk, throughout the day, warmed by sunny skies.
Exhausted voting officials closed the polls well after the planned 8 p.m. local time on Tuesday to make sure everyone in line got a chance to cast their ballot.
Prime Minister Mute Bourup Egede in February called elections a bit early, saying the country needed to be united during a “serious time” that is unlike anything Greenland has ever experienced.
Trump has been outspoken about his desire to control Greenland, telling a joint session of Congress last week that he thought the US was going to get it “one way or the other.”
Greenland, a self-governing region of Denmark, straddles strategic air and sea routes in the North Atlantic and has rich deposits of the rare earth minerals needed to make everything from mobile phones to renewable energy technology.
Egede’s Inuit Ataqatigiit (United Inuit) had been widely expected to win the contest, followed by Siumut — two parties which had dominated Greenland’s politics in recent years.
A break from Denmark wasn’t on the ballot, but it was on everyone’s mind.
The island of 56,000 people has been on a path toward independence since at least 2009, and the 31 lawmakers elected will shape the island’s future as it debates whether the time has come to declare independence.
Four of the five main parties in the race sought independence, but disagreed on when and how.
Naleraq is the most aggressively pro-independence, while Demokraatit favors a more moderate pace of change.
“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.
World Economic Forum Opens New Probe Into Founder Klaus Schwab
Apr 23, 2025
3 min
Tesla Profits Drop 71% — Musk to Reduce DOGE Role
Apr 23, 2025
2 min
Putin Offers to Halt War in Ukraine Along Current Front Line
Apr 23, 2025
3 min
Trump Considers $5K 'Baby Bonus' to Boost Declining US Birthrates
Apr 23, 2025
2 min
Trump Says He Has No Plans to Fire Powell, Market Jumps
Apr 23, 2025
2 min
Jury Rules NYT Not Liable in Sarah Palin Defamation Lawsuit
Apr 23, 2025
2 min
Colombian President Claims US Revoked His Visa
Apr 23, 2025
2 min
Keir Starmer U-Turns: ‘Trans Women Are Not Women’
Apr 23, 2025
2 min
India Terror Attack: At Least 20 Tourists Killed
Apr 23, 2025
3 min
Illegal Alien Charged with Murdering Maryland Mother
Apr 22, 2025
1 min
Bessent: 'De-Escalation' in US-China Fight in 'Very Near Future'
Apr 23, 2025
1 min
RFK Jr. Announces Ban on Food Dye
Apr 23, 2025
1 min
Soros-Backed DA Won't Charge Tesla Vandal Who Caused $20k in Damages
Apr 22, 2025
2 min
Study: How Soros Empire Funds and Steers the Global Climate Change Agenda
Apr 22, 2025
3 min
Pope Francis’ Funeral: Saturday, 4am ET
Apr 22, 2025
3 min
Kristi Noem's Purse Stolen in DC: $3K, Passport, DHS Badge Taken
Apr 22, 2025
2 min
WH Responds to NPR Report on Search for Hegseth Replacement: ‘Fake News’
Apr 22, 2025
<1 min
WashPost: Elon Musk Set to Exit DOGE by May
Apr 22, 2025
1 min
WATCH: Trump and Melania Host White House Easter Egg Roll
Apr 22, 2025
3 min
Andrew Cuomo Criminally Referred to DOJ Over COVID Nursing Home Scandal
Apr 22, 2025
2 min