Grønland has elected a new parliament, with the opposition party Demokraatit winning unexpectedly with 29.9% of the votes, up from 9.2% in the 2021 election. The opposition party Naleraq came in second with 24.5% of the votes, up from 12.2% in 2021.
The ruling left-wing party Inuit Ataqatigiit, led by Prime Minister Múte Egede, received 21.4% of the votes, while its coalition partner, the social democratic Siumut, received 14.7%.
Since no party won an absolute majority, the parties will need to engage in coalition talks and form a government within the next 1.5 months. Demokraatit’s leader, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, has expressed willingness to work with all political forces.
Grønland has been a self-governing part of the Kingdom of Denmark since 1979, with the Danish government responsible for its external and defense policies. The island receives an annual subsidy of approximately €553 million from the Danish government.
While most political parties in Grønland support independence from Denmark, they have different views on how and when this should be achieved. The Naleraq party, for example, advocates for a quick separation from Denmark, potentially with a defense agreement with the US, while the Demokraatit party warns of the political and economic risks of a sudden separation.
A recent survey by the Verian institute found that 85% of Grønlenders do not want to leave Denmark or become part of the US, while 6% would like to be part of the US and the rest are undecided. If a referendum were held today, 56% of respondents would vote for independence, but 45% would oppose it if it would negatively affect their standard of living.
The parliamentary elections in Grønland took place against the backdrop of recent statements by US President Donald Trump, who said the island’s ownership and control are of great importance to the US in the interest of national security and freedom. Grønland’s Prime Minister, Múte Egede, rejected the idea, saying the island belongs to the Grønlenders and will never be sold.