Naleraq, which advocates an immediate break with Denmark, came in second with 24,5%, while the two left-wing parties that governed for the past three years suffered a sharp decline in elections marked by Donald Trump's interest in acquiring the Arctic island.
The match Democrats, which favors a gradual independence of Denmark, won the parliamentary elections in Greenland This Tuesday, beating the ruling left-wing coalition in an election marked by the proposal of the president of United States, Donald Trump, to incorporate the island into its territory.
With the 100% of the votes counted, Democrats got the 29,9% of the votes, an advance over the 9,1% of the 2021 elections. In second place was the party Naleraq, which advocates rapid independence, with a 24,5%.
Since returning to power in January, Trump has insisted that Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark, should be part of the US for reasons of National security, an idea rejected by most Greenlanders.
With only 57.000 inhabitants, Greenland has become a key point in the competition for the Arctic, where melting ice has facilitated access to natural resources and opened new maritime routes. Russia and China have intensified their military presence in the region, increasing its strategic importance.
The leader of Democrats, Jens Frederik Nielsen, stressed that the population voted for change and emphasized the need to boost the economy before a possible independence.
"We want more businesses to finance our well-being", he declared in Nuuk"We don't want independence tomorrow, we want a solid foundation," he added.
Now, Nielsen will have to negotiate with other parties to form a coalition government.
The ruling party Inuit Ataqatigiit and his partner siumut, who also advocate gradual independence, jointly obtained the 36% of the votes, a considerable drop compared to 66,1% reached in 2021.
The outgoing prime minister, Mute Egede, acknowledged the result in a message on Facebook and assured that he is willing to listen to proposals in the upcoming negotiations to form a government.
Greenland was a Danish colony until 1953, when it became an autonomous territory. In 1979, formed its first parliament and in 2009 obtained the right to declare independence by referendum.
However, it has not taken that step due to its dependence on the financial aid from Denmark, which contributes almost $ 1.000 million annually to its economy.
The Trump factor
Trump's intervention in the election campaign shook up the political landscape and fueled pro-independence sentiment among the Inuit. During the last televised debate, the five parties represented in parliament agreed on their distrust of the American president.
"He's trying to influence us. I understand why citizens feel insecure," he said. Erik JensenLeader siumut, one of the parties of the outgoing government.
A January poll indicated that the Most Greenlanders support independence, although they are divided on the right time to do so.
In Nuuk, Reuters interviewed more than a dozen voters, all in favor of independence, but concerned about the economic impact.
“We don’t want to be part of the US for obvious reasons: the healthcare system and Trump,” he said. Tuuta Lynge-Larsen, bank employee.
The island has important reserves of strategic minerals, included rare earth, essential for technological and military industries. However, exploitation has been slow due to environmental concerns, extreme weather conditions, and China's dominance in the sector.
Trump initially did not rule out the use of force to annex Greenland, but later softened his stance, saying he would respect the will of the local population and was willing to invest billions of dollars if they joined the US.
Egede rejected the offer and proposed a broad coalition government to resist external pressure. In an interview with Danish television DR, stated that Greenland “not for sale” and that its priority is to strengthen cooperation with other countries.
The prime minister of Denmark reiterated that Greenland is not for sale, but stressed that the final decision on its future depends on its inhabitants.
All Greenlandic political parties support independence, although they disagree on the strategy and timeframe for achieving it.
Naleraq, the main pro-independence force, has grown in support thanks to US interest and new allegations about Denmark's exploitation of natural resources. Its goal is to negotiate a secession agreement with Copenhagen and put it to a vote before the next elections in 2028.
Meanwhile, Greenland faces a political and economic crossroads, challenging itself with balancing its aspirations for independence with financial stability and growing geopolitical competition in the Arctic.
(With information from Reuters)
Source: INFOBAE