The island of Greenland, which is courted by US President Donald Trump, is faced with a change of government. Two opposition parties were the new strongest forces in the Greenland parliament in the parliamentary election on the largest island on earth. Both parties have different ideas about how to proceed from the Kingdom of Denmark.
The social liberal democracy (Democrats) came to 29.9 percent after counting all votes. The Naleraq, which was drawn to a quick detachment from Denmark, reached 24.5 percent. The broadcasting station KNR called Democratit as the winner of the election in the early morning. A little more than 40,000 Greenlanders were allowed to give up their voices.
Independence of Denmark was the biggest election campaign topic
The only 33-year-old Democratite boss Jens-Frederik Nielsen will now be trying to try the formation of the next Greenland government. He announced at night to stretch his hand towards all other parties – also to the Naleraq. This is viewed critically in large parts of the political spectrum. It includes some of the few politicians who had in the meantime positive about Trump’s desires.
“Of course we will talk to you, just like with everyone else,” said Nielsen on the election night, according to the Danish radio station. “This is the second largest party, so we can’t avoid them.” He also spoke out for a “quiet course” towards the United States and for the fact that “a foundation” had to be created first before one could talk about a state foundation. Naleraq boss Pele Broberg also did not want to exclude a collaboration between the two parties.
Trump -Debatte shapes election in Greenland
The parliamentary election was strongly under the impression of Trump’s ownership claims. In the past few months he had repeatedly said that he wanted to take control of the largest island on earth. He justifies this requirement with national or international security.
Most recently, Trump interfered in the hot phase of the election campaign by promising new jobs and wealth to the Greenlanders through his platform Truth. In the article he invited the island to be almost 57,000 inhabitants shortly before the election to become “part of the greatest nation in the world” if they wanted to.
However, it is not as simple as Trump imagines. Unlike in the case of Alaska in 1867, the USA territory cannot simply buy from other countries these days. According to a survey, a clear majority of the Greenlanders are also against becoming part of the United States. Against this background, it is completely unrealistic to the current status that the next Greenland government will follow the Trump request in any way.
Tart losses for government parties
In the course of the Trump debate, Prime Minister Múte B. Eggede has become the international face of Greenland. He had repeatedly made it clear that Greenland was not for sale, but was definitely interested in stronger economic cooperation with the United States, for example when reducing the immense raw material deposits on the island.
Eggede had proven to be a prudent and uniform leader – something that voters obviously did not want to appreciate with their voices. His left -wing party Inuit Ataqatigiit (IA) and her social democratic coalition partner Siumut lost around 15 percentage points, which gave them to 21.4 and 14.7 percent.
“We respect the outcome of the choice,” Egged wrote on Facebook. “Now work begins in the new election period. And we are excited to hear what the parties will offer for the negotiations – we are ready.”
The big question of independence
In the formation of government, it will be particularly interesting to observe how the parties involved behave in the question of independence and the future of tense relationship with Denmark. The majority of the six parties started in the election campaign was basically agreed that one day Greenland should become independent of his former colonial power Denmark.
However, they are disagreed when the right time could have come for it: While Naleraq takes a quick split off the island of Denmark, democracy like other parties would like to be significantly slower. In their election program, the Democrats make it clear that independence is “the goal” – but also that the right conditions would first have to be created.
The main sticking point is Greenland’s still strong financial dependence on Copenhagen. “We have to improve our economy by around five billion crowns (670 million euros) per year if we strive for political independence and at the same time want to maintain the current level of wealth,” says the democratic election program. A way there – not least, showed Egede’s statements – could be stronger economic cooperation with the United States.
