'People want change,' said Demokraatit leader Jens-Frederik Nielsen
Greenland's
center-right Demokraatit party won the surprise parliamentary elections in the
country, ousting Greenlandic Prime Minister Múte Egede's party, Inuit
Ataqatigiit, from power. Independence from Denmark was at the center of the
election with President Donald Trump's frequent speculations about the U.S.
taking over.
"Everybody desires change. We want more commerce to fund our welfare," Demokraatit leader Jens-Frederik Nielsen told Reuters. The site further reported Nielsen as saying Greenland does not "desire independence tomorrow" and would rather the separation from Denmark be on the basis of a "good foundation."
Leader of Demokraatit, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, reacts during the election party at cafe Killut in Nuuk, March 12, 2025. (Ritzau Scanpix/Mads Claus Rasmussen via REUTERS)
Four of the
five dominant parties on the ballot, including the two that took first and
second positions, Demokraatit Party and Naleraq, support independence from
Denmark but differ on the speed. Greenland, with a population of around 57,000
individuals, is at the moment a semi-autonomous part of the Kingdom of Denmark.
Trump's new interest in the island, however, reignited talks of separating from
the Danish crown.
Prime
Minister Egede, whose party lost control, wrote on Facebook that he accepts the
result of the election and that the parties are prepared for negotiations.
Danish
Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen congratulated the Demokraatit Party and
said the future of Greenland would be subjected to "massive pressure"
from Trump, reported the Associated Press, which quoted Danish Broadcasting
Corporation DR. Poulsen was also quoted as having added that "the future
of Greenland is based on what the Greenlandic people and government want."
The Demokraatit Party received a huge boost in popularity, securing almost 30% of the vote as opposed to only 9% in 2021, said the Associated Press, quoting Greenlandic Broadcasting Corporation KNR TV.
Poster for Demokraatit, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, in front of Godthaabshallen where voting takes place in connection with the parliamentary election to Inatsisartut in Nuuk, Greenland, Tuesday, March 11, 2025. (Mads Claus Rasmussen/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)
GREENLAND, PANAMA FIERCELY REJECT TRUMP'S AMBITIONS IN
ADDRESS TO CONGRESS
Last week,
Trump mentioned Greenland in his speech to a joint session of Congress.
"We
proudly support your right to choose your own destiny, and, if you wish, we
open our arms to you in the United States of America," Trump declared,
with a laugh from the audience. "We need Greenland for national security
and even international security, and we're working with all parties involved to
see if we can get it… One way or another, we're going to get it."
In the same speech, Trump promised that the United States would "take Greenland to heights like you have never thought possible before."
Campaign posters hang outside of the polling station ahead of tomorrow's general election on March 10, 2025 in Ilulissat, Greenland. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Trump spoke
of Greenland last week in his address to a joint session of Congress.
"We
enthusiastically endorse your right to select your own fate, and, if you
desire, we welcome you into our arms in the United States of America,"
Trump stated, to a guffaw from the crowd. "We need Greenland for national
security and even global security, and we're negotiating with all those parties
involved to determine if we can acquire it… One way or another, we're going to
obtain it."
In the same
address, Trump vowed that America would "take Greenland to heights like
you have never thought possible before.".