In Greenland’s election, the traditionally biggest parties that until recently constituted the government have suffered a major voter backlash.
The result on March 11 came after US President Donald Trump’s recent remarks about “ownership” and “control” of the country put voters’ focus on independence.
The election’s two biggest winners in the ballot were the social-liberal party Demokraatit and the independence focused, centrist-populist party Naleraq.
Demokraatit tripled its share of the vote (29.9 per cent) compared to the last election in 2021, while Naleraq doubled its share (24.5 per cent) of the almost 41,000 voters on the world’s biggest island of 57,000 eligible inhabitants.
Naleraq had pushed for rapid independence for the country that is controlled by Denmark, while Demokraatit wanted to negotiate independence and free association agreements with Denmark and the US.
Greenland governs its own domestic affairs but decisions on foreign and defence policy are made in Copenhagen.
Still, Demokraatit acknowledged that Greenland’s economy needed improvement before full independence became feasible.
Associate Professor Lill Rastad Bjørst of Greenlandic and Arctic Studies at Copenhagen University told Brussels Signal after the vote: “What Greenland really wants is a situation where they can more easily and independently co-operate and trade with other countries.
“For instance, that agreements with the US can be made by Greenland’s own government without Denmark’s involvement.
“The question is not whether Greenland will become independent, but rather how quickly and how Greenland will reach this goal in practice.”
Beyond the independence debate, the key topics concerning voters were economy, healthcare and housing issues.
Demokraatit, the most likely party to lead the new government, said it aimed to boost economic growth by cutting taxes, including corporate taxes, and reducing public spending.
Voters rejected the current government parties, the Socialist party Inuit Ataqatigiit and the social-democratic Siumut. The sitting Prime Minister Múte Egede’s party lost almost a third of its voters to garner 21.4 per cent, while Siumut saw its support halved (14.7 per cent) compared to 2021.
The election losers ran on a less aggressive independence platform, agreeing to form a commission to explore how a national referendum on independence should be structured.
The Liberal-Conservative party Atassut was the only one not pursuing independence and received 7.3 per cent, about the same as 2021. Instead of outright independence, the party wanted to renegotiate Greenland’s Self-Government Act with Denmark.
The much smaller Qulleq party pulled 1.1 per cent of the vote.
Negotiations will now begin to form a new government.
Independence from Denmark has been an important topic for the Greenlandic population for many years but it was catapulted to the top of the election agenda, partly due to US interest.
Since taking office again in January, Trump has reiterated his intention to acquire the territory.
“We need Greenland for national security. One way or the other we’re gonna get it,” he said during his address to the US Congress on March 5.
Greenland and Denmark’s leaders have repeatedly rebuffed his demands.
Egede had made clear that his country was not for sale and deserved to be “treated with respect”.
For Greenland, the debate on independence was primarily about recognition — being acknowledged as an independent nation on equal terms with other countries, according to Ulrik Pram Gad, senior researcher at the Danish Institute for International Studies.
“Over the last 20 years, Greenlandic voters have wanted more independence from Denmark, as long as it doesn’t lead to national problems,” he said.
Currently, Denmark covers a third of Greenland’s State budget, providing annual support of around €540 million. Additionally, Denmark funds the island’s judiciary, police, prisons and defence, totalling €187 million per year.
Even if Greenland achieved greater independence, it would still need economic support until it became financially self-sufficient, accordinng to Gad. Moreover, the local government would still have to rely on US military support, he pointed out.
“If Greenland becomes independent, it will not be possible to get rid of the US. Greenland will need to make an agreement with the Americans for defence and security purposes.”
