According to the official election result, the Democratic Party, which describes itself as a “social liberal”, came to 29.9 percent, the Naleraq party doubled its result and came to 24.5 percent. The previous coalition from the left-green Inuit Ataqatigiit (IA) and the Social Democrats of Siumut, on the other hand, was clearly punished by the voters: Compared to the choice of four years ago, IA lost 15.3 percentage points, Siumut recorded a loss of 14.7 percentage points.
“We respect the result of the choice,” said the left -wing head of government Mute Eggede in the KNR station. Meanwhile, the head of the social democratic source gave a defeat. The turnout was 70 percent and thus higher than usual.
Since none of the parties alone can reach a majority of 31 seats in parliament, negotiations on a government coalition are now required. The new government faces major challenges: In particular, it must explain the procedure and a schedule for the independence of the Arctic island of Denmark, which is supported by the vast majority of the Greenland population.
“The Democrats are open to discussions with all parties and striving for unity, especially in view of what is happening abroad,” said the 33-year-old party leader of the Democratic Party, Jens-Frederik Nielsen. He also said not to have expected such an election outcome.
The possible complete independence of Denmark was one of the central themes of the election campaign. Corresponding efforts were inspired by the threat of US President Trump to incorporate Greenland in the United States if necessary. In the past week, in a speech before the US Congress, he had reaffirmed his takeover plans already announced in the election campaign for the raw material-rich island area. The United States supported the right of the population there to decide on their future, emphasized the Republican. However, he was certain that the USA would get Greenland “in one way or another”. However, the latest surveys show that 85 percent of Trump’s Greenlander rejects takeover plans.
The USA’s interest in the area is not new. Already in the Monroe doctrine of 1823, the United States claimed Greenland as part of their “sphere of interest”. In 1917 Washington bought the Jungfern Islands from Denmark and at the same time recognized Danish sovereignty over Greenland.
57,000 people live on the largest island in the world. Greenland has been autonomous in many areas since 1979, but the former colonial power of Denmark still decides on foreign and defense policy. Greenland subsidizes this annually with 530 million euros, which makes up a fifth of the gross domestic product of the Arctic island. The second major topic in the election campaign was therefore the boosting of one’s own economy and thus strategies to achieve a higher quality of life.
Almost all parties on the island support Greenland independence, but there is disagreement on the schedule. The nationalist opposition party Naleraq wants to reach them as soon as possible. The two parties of the outgoing coalition government are less in a hurry. In her opinion, Greenland has to achieve a certain economic independence before independence.
In contrast to Denmark, Greenland is not a member of the European Union, the island left the community in 1985. More than 90 percent inhabitants are inuit. 19,000 people live in the capital Nuuk.
