NUUK, Greenland: Greenland’s centre-right Democrat Party has emerged victorious in a dramatic parliamentary election, unseating the ruling Inuit Ataqatigiit (IA).
The election, held against the backdrop of renewed US interest in acquiring the Arctic territory, saw the Democrats secure the most votes, marking a major shift in Greenlandic politics.
In Tuesday’s election, the Democrats replaced Inuit Ataqatigiit (IA), the party of former Prime Minister Múte B Egede, as the largest party in the Inatsisartut, the Greenlandic parliament.
The election also resulted in a significant gain for Naleraq, which saw its seats double, making it the second-largest party.
Naleraq is the party most supportive of US collaboration and advocates for a snap vote on independence.
Both the Democrats and Naleraq favour independence from Denmark, though they differ on the pace of change, with Naleraq pushing for a quicker transition than the Democrats (known as Demokraatit in Greenland).
The result surprised even the Democrat leader, Jens-Frederik Nielsen. The party has never secured so many seats as it got 10 seats, an increase of seven on the last election and three more than its previous record of seven in 2005.
Though the Democrats have been involved in several coalitions, they have never led a government.
There are a total of 31 seats in the Greenlandic parliament, with 16 seats needed for a majority.
The Democrats describe themselves as being “social liberal” and have called for independence but in the longer term. Nielsen said: “We didn’t expect the election to have this outcome. We’re very happy.”
The Naleraq leader, Pele Broberg, said the election day would be remembered and congratulated Nielsen.
The upcoming government is expected to outline a timeline for independence, a move supported by a substantial majority of Greenland’s 57,000 residents.
The election was closely monitored in Denmark, which governed Greenland as a colony until 1953 and still oversees its foreign and security policy. Greenland, along with the Faroe Islands, is part of the Kingdom of Denmark.
The Danish prime minister, Mette Frederiksen said the election was won on domestic issues such as business, fisheries, pensions, people’s livelihoods, and healthcare.
Fencker, who travelled to Washington DC for Donald Trump’s election has been described as “Greenland’s most pro-Trump politician”.
President Trump, last week told Congress he would acquire Greenland “one way or the other” and has promised to make Greenlanders rich.
US interest in the territory is not new: In the 1823 Monroe Doctrine, the US claimed Greenland was part of its “sphere of interests”.
During World War II, when Denmark was occupied by Germany, Greenland came under US protection and was returned to Denmark at the end of the war.
The US maintained several large military bases; One of them, Pituffik — in the island’s northwest — is still in use.
Greenland’s soil is rich in untapped mineral and oil reserves, but on a global scale, the amounts are modest.
