BREAKING: US President Donald Trump’s pledge dominates the Greenland election, resulting in the victory of the centre-right opposition

In favour of business The election is won by the Demokraatit party, which advocates for a gradual transition to independence from Denmark.

The centre-right opposition Demokraatit party of Greenland has emerged victorious in a parliamentary election that was overshadowed by the United States President Donald Trump’s election campaign promise to assume control of the strategically located Arctic island.

Demokraatit, which is described as pro-business and advocates for a gradual approach to independence from Denmark, secured 29.9 percent of the vote in the wake of Tuesday’s election, according to the Reuters news agency. The opposition Naleraq party, which advocates for rapid independence, secured 24.5 percent of the vote after all votes were counted.

“People are eager for change…” According to Jens-Frederik Nielsen, the chief of Demokraatit and a former minister of industry and minerals, “We desire an increase in business to fund our welfare.”

“We do not desire independence tomorrow; rather, we desire a solid foundation,” Nielsen stated to reporters.

Through negotiations with other parties, Nielsen will now have the opportunity to establish a governing coalition.

In response to a high voter turnout at several of the 72 polling stations throughout the mineral-rich island, voting was prolonged by half an hour beyond the 22:00 GMT deadline on Tuesday. A total of 40,500 individuals were eligible to cast their ballot.

Trump’s commitment
Since assuming office in January, Trump has pledged to incorporate Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark, into the United States, asserting that it is essential to the country’s security.

The vast island, which has a population of only 57,000, has become embroiled in a geopolitical competition for dominance in the Arctic. The melting ice caps are facilitating the development of new transportation routes and increasing the accessibility of the island’s abundant rare earth metal resources.

Mute Bourup Egede, the prime minister of Greenland, called for the election last month, stating that the territory was in need of unity during a “serious time” that was unprecedented in Greenland’s history.

Trump has been vocal about his aspiration to dominate Greenland; however, Russia and China have also escalated their military operations in the Arctic region.

From 1953 to the present, Greenland has been a territory and a former Danish colony. The formation of its first parliament in 1979 granted Copenhagen some autonomy; however, it continues to exercise control over foreign affairs, defence, and monetary policy, and it contributes just under $1 billion annually to the economy.

The right to declare full independence was granted to Greenland in 2009 through a referendum. However, the country has not yet done so due to concerns that its living standards would decline without Denmark’s economic support.

The election campaign, according to Julie Rademacher, a consultant and former adviser to Greenland’s government, was initially centred on the wrath and frustration directed towards historical wrongdoings committed by former colonial ruler Denmark.

Rademacher stated, “However, I believe that the apprehension regarding the US imperialist strategy has recently eclipsed the hostility towards Denmark.”

The Reuters news agency interviewed over a dozen Greenlanders in Nuuk, all of whom expressed their support for independence. However, a significant number of them expressed apprehension that a rapid transition could disrupt the economy and eradicate Nordic welfare services such as universal healthcare and free schooling.

“We are not interested in becoming a part of the United States for two obvious reasons: healthcare and Trump,” stated Tuuta Lynge-Larsen, a bank employee and resident of Nuuk. She also emphasised the significance of this election.

A January poll indicated that the majority of Greenlanders are in favour of independence, but they are divided on the timing.

Greenland’s governing Inuit Ataqatigiit party and its partner Siumut, which also pursue a gradual path to independence, secured a combined 36 percent of the vote, a decrease from the 66.1 percent they achieved in 2021.