The much-anticipated parliamentary elections in Greenland on March 11 delivered a surprise winner and two clear messages: a pushback against US President Donald Trump’s interest in the Arctic territory and a signal that independence from Denmark may come -- but at a slower pace.
The opposition Democrats, a liberal pro-business party, finished on top with nearly 30 percent of the vote, ahead of the staunchly pro-independence Point of Orientation party, which got 24 percent.
Surprisingly, the governing coalition of sitting Prime Minister Mute Egede’s Community of the People party and the Forward party -- both of which favor independence but at a slower pace than Point of Orientation -- finished a disappointing third and fourth, respectively, leaving them with no chance of continuing to rule in this constellation.
The likely new premier will now be the leader of the Democrats, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, who has been the one of the most outspoken Greenlandic critics of Trump’s desire to make the world’s largest island American.
Ever since entering the White House, the US president has expressed an interest in taking control of the strategically located and resource-rich territory -- sparking unease, particularly notably in NATO ally Denmark.
A Slow Breakup With Copenhagen
The Democrats were previously skeptical about severing ties with Copenhagen, which still controls Greenland’s foreign and monetary policy.
In recent years, however, they have shifted their stance, viewing independence as a long-term goal, provided that the island becomes more economically self-sufficient. Currently, nearly half the population works in the public sector, which is largely funded by Danish grants.
To achieve this, Nielsen hopes to reverse political decisions that restricted oil and gas exploration and banned uranium mining in Greenland.
However, this also complicates coalition negotiations.
The most likely governing partner, the Community of the People party, is strongly environmentalist and firmly opposed to such moves, having made this a hallmark of its platform in recent years.
Still, with a narrow majority in the 31-seat parliament, the two parties are expected to agree on keeping Washington at arm’s length while maintaining closer ties with Denmark -- at least for now.
