Centre-right party springs surprise in Greenland elections

The right leaning Demokraatit Party, which favours independence from Denmark, won the most votes.

Chairman of Demokraatit, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, hugs supporters during the election party at Demokraatit by cafe Killut in Nuuk — Chairman of Demokraatit, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, celebrated the result (Scanpix via AP)

The right-leaning 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 US President Donald Trump’s stated goal of taking control of the island.

Both Demokraatit – the Democrats – and the second place party, Naleraq – Point of Orientation – favour independence from Denmark.

Demokraatit won 30% of the vote, compared to just 9% in the election four years ago, Greenlandic Broadcasting Corporation KNR TV reported.

Demokraatit's members celebrate — Mr Nielsen celebrated Demokraatit’s unexpected win (Scanpix via AP)

Naleraq came in second with almost 25% of the vote. In the 2021 election, they received just under 12%, according to KNR TV.

Demokraatit’s upset victory over parties that have governed the territory for years indicates many in Greenland care just as much about social issues such as healthcare, education, cultural heritage and other social policies.

“I think this is a historic result in Greenland’s political history,” Demokraatit party leader Jens-Frederik Nielsen said.

Mr Nielsen, 33, appeared to be surprised by his party’s gains, with photos showing him sporting a huge grin and applauding at the election party.

Members of the Naleraq party applaud during a party after parliamentary elections in Nuuk, Greenland (Evgeniy Maloletka/AP)

The Danish Broadcasting Corporation DR reported that Mr Nielsen said his party would reach out to all other parties to negotiate the future political course for Greenland.

“We had not expected that the election would have this outcome,” Mr Nielsen said, according to KNR TV. “We are very happy.”

The unanticipated results came after huge crowds streamed into the polling station in the capital Nuuk throughout the day, warmed by sunny skies. Exhausted voting officials closed the polls well after the planned 8pm local time on Tuesday to make sure everyone in line got a chance to cast their ballot.

Prime minister Mute Bourup Egede in February called elections a bit early, saying the country needed to be united during a “serious time” that is unlike anything Greenland has ever experienced.

Lars Joergen Kleist in Godthaabshallen wearing a MAGA hat, waits in line to cast his vote in the parliamentary elections to Inatsisartut in Nuuk — Some voters appeared to support Mr Trump’s overtures (Scanpix via AP)

On Wednesday, after the results were known, Mr Egede thanked voters in a Facebook post for turning out and said the parties were ready to turn to negotiations to form a government.

His party, Inuit Ataqatigiit, or United Inuit, received 21% of the vote. This is a significant decline from the last election, when the party came in strongest with 36% of the vote, according to KNR TV.

Inuit Ataqatigiit had been widely expected to win, followed by Siumut — two parties which had dominated Greenland’s politics in recent years.

Siumut came in fourth with 14% of the vote.

Danish defence minister Troels Lund Poulsen congratulated the Demokraatit party and said the future Greenlandic government would likely have to “deal with massive pressure from US President Donald Trump,” according to DR.

Voters in a snowy backdrop — The vote had been closely watched internationally (Scanpix via AP)

He added that “it’s not the case that you can just take part of the Danish Realm – the future of Greenland is based on what the Greenlandic people and government want,” DR reported.

Mr Trump has been outspoken about his desire to control Greenland, telling a joint session of Congress last week that he thought the US was going to get it “one way or the other”.

Greenland, a self-governing region of Denmark, straddles strategic air and sea routes in the North Atlantic and has rich deposits of the rare earth minerals needed to make everything from mobile phones to renewable energy technology.

Mr Egede’s Inuit Ataqatigiit (United Inuit) had been widely expected to win the contest, followed by Siumut — two parties which had dominated Greenland’s politics in recent years.

People line up outside a polling station to cast their vote in parliamentary elections in Nuuk, Greenland (Evgeniy Maloletka/AP)

A break from Denmark was not on the ballot, but it was on everyone’s mind. The island of 56,000 people has been on a path towards independence since at least 2009 and the 31 politicians elected will shape the island’s future as it debates whether the time has come to declare independence.

Four of the five main parties in the race sought independence, but disagreed on when and how.

Naleraq is the most aggressively pro-independence, while Demokraatit favours a more moderate pace of change.

“What approach to independence will win the day will ultimately depend on if Demokraatit decides to form a coalition government, and if so, with which party,” said Dwayne Menezes, managing director of the Polar Research and Policy Initiative.