I have been following the developments in Greenland closely, especially in light of yesterday’s election and the ongoing focus on the Arctic Island and its future.
I am happy to report the Greenland parliamentary election held resulted in a surprising victory for the center-right opposition party, Demokraatit (Democrats), which wants gradual independence from Denmark. The second spot went to Naleraq, which advocates for a rapid approach to independence from Denmark.
The center-right Demokraatit Party won the most votes in Greenland’s parliamentary elections, a surprise result as the territory went to the polls in the shadow of President Donald Trump’s stated goal of taking control of the island one way or another.Both Demokraatit — the Democrats — and the second place party, Naleraq — “Point of Orientation” — favor independence from Denmark, but they have differences on the pace of change.Demokraatit’s upset victory over parties that have governed the territory for years indicates that many in Greenland care just as much about healthcare, education, cultural heritage and other social policies.The unanticipated results came after huge crowds streamed into the polling station in the capital, Nuuk, throughout the day, warmed by sunny skies.
The results are a mandate for a change in status, and a rebuke to the ruling party.
Jens-Frederik Nielsen will now start negotiating with other parties to form a ruling coalition.
Jens-Frederik Nielsen, Demokraatit’s leader and a former minister of industry and minerals, will now hold talks with Naleraq and other parties to try and form a governing coalition. The ruling Inuit Ataqatigiit party and its partner Siumut, which also seek a slow path toward independence, won a combined 36% of votes.”We don’t want independence tomorrow, we want a good foundation,” Nielsen told reporters in Greenland’s capital Nuuk early Wednesday after all the votes were counted.
Clearly, Greenland isn’t going to break from Denmark tomorrow. But I will note that some mainstream media outlets are claiming that a “Trump critic” is now in charge. For example, NBC:
“We need Greenland for national security. One way or the other we’re gonna get it,” Trump told Congress during an address last week.Those comments directly oppose those of Nielsen, who during Tuesday’s vote told NBC News international partner Sky News that he wanted the vote to send “a clear message to him that we are not for sale.”“We don’t want to be Americans. No, we don’t want to be Danes. We want to be Greenlanders. And we want our own independence in the future. And we want to build our own country by ourselves, not with his hope,” Nielsen added.
I suspect Trump’s comments have more to do with inspiring Denmark or the Greenlanders to take Arctic security more seriously. Furthermore, Nielson’s comments are hardly unreasonable and don’t indicate he wouldn’t be open to an arrangement with the US that allows his nation to be independent.
The new ruling coalition could be open to a Compact of Free Association, benefiting both Greenlanders and Americans. In fact, second-place Naleraq indicated it was very open to this idea…and I will note that made significant gains in this election.
However, there looks like there will be no rush to independence either.
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