The pro-business Democratit Party, which supports a slow approach to independence from Denmark, wins the election.
The opposition Democratit Party on the centre right of Greenland won a parliamentary election hidden by President Donald Trump’s pledge to rule the strategically placed Arctic Island.
Demokratit, known as Probusiness and supporting a slow approach to independence from Denmark, won 29.9% of votes after Tuesday’s election, Reuters reports 29.9% of votes ahead of the opposition Narerak Party, which supports rapid independence at 24.5% after all votes were counted.
“People want change… we want more businesses to fund our welfare,” said Jens-Frederik Nielsen, leader of Demokraatit and former Minister of Industry and Minerals.
“I don’t want independence tomorrow, I want a good foundation,” Nielsen told reporters.
Nielsen will have the opportunity to form a governing coalition through consultation with other parties.
Greenland’s governing Inuit Atakatijit Party and its partner Siumut are seeking a slow path to independence, winning a total of 36% of votes, down from 66.1% in 2021.
The vote was extended past the 22:00 GMT deadline on Tuesday, bringing high turnout at some of the 72 mineral-rich polling stations on the island that 40,500 people qualify for votes.
Trump’s pledge
Since taking office in January, Trump has pledged to make Greenland (Denmark’s semi-autonomous territory) part of the United States, calling it essential to the US security interests.
The vast island, with a population of just 57,000, is caught up in the Arctic geopolitical race of domination, where melted ice caps make the rich resources of rare earth metals more accessible and open up new transport routes.
Greenland’s prime minister Mute Bullup Egede called for elections last month and said it would need to be unified during “serious times” that Greenland has experienced before.
Trump is openly speaking about his desire to control Greenland, but both Russia and China are strengthening military operations in the Arctic.
Although Greenland is a former Danish colony and territory since 1953, gaining autonomy when the first parliament was established in 1979, Copenhagen still controls diplomacy, defense and monetary policy, providing just under $1 billion a year to the economy.
In 2009, Greenland acquired the right to declare full independence through a referendum, despite not doing so due to concerns that standard of living would fall without Denmark’s economic support.
Julie Rademacher, a consultant and former advisor to the Greenland government, said early on that the campaign focused on anger and frustration aimed at historical misconduct by former colonial rulers Denmark.
“But I think the fear of the US imperialist approach has recently been greater than anger towards Denmark,” Rademacher said.
The Reuters news agency spoke to more than 12 Greenlanders in Nuke, who all said they supported independence, but many expressed concern that a quick transition could damage the economy and eliminate Nordic welfare services like Universal Healthcare and Free Schools.
“We don’t want to be part of the US for obvious reasons. Healthcare and Trump,” and Tuta Linge Larsen, a bank employee and Nuuk resident, added that the election is particularly important.
A January poll suggested that the majority of Greenlanders support independence, but that there are differences in timing.
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