With Greenland in the spotlight by the insistence of President Trump that the United States will somehow obtain it, the Greenlanders have held close surveillance election Tuesday, it took on an unusual importance – not only for the outside world, but also for them.
The participation rate has reached its highest level in more than a decade, and the polling stations on the distant and low -populated island, which is partly controlled by Denmark, remained open late to accommodate long lines.
But with all the votes counted early Wednesday morning, the results were mixed.
The winner was Demokraatit, a party that criticized Mr. Trump’s rhetoric. He took a moderate position on the subject of Denmark’s independence, which most politicians in Greenland support as a long -term objective.
The second most popular party, Naleraq, however put pressure for independence as soon as possible – which, according to some of its members, would allow Greenland to associate more freely with other countries, including the United States. One of the most important figures in Naleraq is very pro-Trump and attended the inauguration of the American president.
The Greenlanders are clearly divided, experts said, how to manage this crossroads.
“What has become clear during the elections – and what Denmark must now recognize – is that in the political spectrum, there is dissatisfaction with the current constitutional arrangement,” said Ulrik Pram Gad, a researcher at the Danish Institute for International Studies in Copenhagen. “Whatever the result, there will be calls to renegotiate the structure of the Kingdom of Denmark.”
Denmark colonized Greenland over 300 years ago, and although the island is now considered a semi-auto territory, Denmark still controls foreign policy, defense and other aspects of its governance. Demokraatit – which won just under 30% of the vote, ahead of the 24.5% of Naleraq – has always argued that independence should not jeopardize economic and social stability. There are only 56,000 people living on the island, and the difference between the first and second place in this election was around 1,500 votes.
Lars Trier Mogensen, a political analyst based in Copenhagen, said that he did not expect drastic changes in the geopolitical situation of Greenland, at least for the moment.
“It is unlikely that the new Greenlandic government will rush into the major changes in American relations as soon as possible,” he said.
In interviews with voters in recent weeks and during the events of the town hall with candidates, it is local problems such as health care, schools and fishing (the main industry of the island) that kept climbing. Some observers have said that the two main parties were clearer about what was to be changed.
For example, they both campaigned on the overhaul of the peach law, said SVEND HARDENBERGa mining frame and, more recently, a star in a Danish Netflix Popular Series This, by chance, had a whole season on Greenland.
“The main management is independence,” he said. “I think it can go faster than most people expect it.”
Greenland has a mineral treasure And is strategically located almost as important the shipping routes of the Arctic Ocean. Mr. Trump, in a Address at Congress Last week, said: “I think we are going to get it – in one way or another, we will get it.”
On Sunday, two days before the elections, in an article on social networks, he made direct ground to the Greenlanders: “We are ready to invest billions of dollars to create new jobs and make you rich.”
But the Greenlanders were clear that despite Mr. Trump’s supplications, they do not want to be absorbed by the United States, with polls showing that at least 85% oppose the idea. “Greenland is not a house that can be purchased,” said Demokraatit chief Jens-Frederik Nielsen.
However, Kuno Fencker of Naleraq, who is the most pro-Trump politician in Greenland, obtained many more votes than in the last elections, in 2021. Mr. Fencker attended the inauguration of Mr. Trump and made a visit to the West wing, and his push for stronger ties with the United States attracted the criticism of his rivals, some of whom tractor. In A recent podcastMr. Fencker argued that Mr. Trump had been “misunderstood”.
The second place of Naleraq means that the voices of prolonged independence will remain influential, and the party could put pressure for a greater commitment with Washington. But Mr. Fenker’s enthusiasm for Trump may have disabled some voters, analysts said.
“Naleraq positioned himself in a way that gave the impression that a vote for them would bring Trump together,” said Gad.
Naleraq has doubled its seats, going from four to eight, to the Parliament of 31 places in Greenland, L’Inatisartut. During an electoral evening on the outskirts of Nuuk, the capital, the members of the party and the supporters kissed, danced and applauded.
Analysts predicted that Demokraatit was likely to form a governing coalition with the more moderate Inuit Party Ataqatigiit, or IA, which finished third, with 21.4% of the votes. Inuit Ataqatigiit, the dominant party of the outgoing governance coalition, adopted an approach to Go-Salle to disintegrate from Denmark.
Greenland, the largest island in the world, is home to a population mainly from Inuit that Denmark has sidelined in colonial times. Over time, requests for autonomy have led to greater autonomy and a green government. One of Naleraq’s sale arguments, said Mr. Gad, was his “activist language” inspired by international movements like #MeToo and Black Lives Matter.
Today, Greenland manages most of its internal affairs. But complete independence will not be easy. Denmark sends hundreds of millions of dollars to the island every year that pays for beautiful schools, cheap gas and solid social services – a Scandinavian standard of living in a very remote place. Many Greenlanders, even if they lean towards independence, said that they were reluctant to abandon all this, which is why the subject of the rupture of Denmark is so sensitive.
Many voters have also expressed skepticism, concern and even the anger of how Mr. Trump talked about their homeland. People have lived on this iced island for thousands of years, surviving hunting and fishing. The feeling of Greenland’s identity is solid and during the elections, the ballots had to be transported by helicopter, boat and snowmobile.
During the final television debate on Monday, five of the six party leaders said they had not trusted Trump. Only Karl Ingemann, from the little party of Quelleq, said that he had done so. And Mr. Ingemann failed to win a seat.
