Jens-Frederik Nielsen, the chairman of the Demokraatit Party, plays guitar as he celebrates during the election party at Demokraatit by cafe Killut in Nuuk, early Wednesday, March 12, 2025.
Mads Claus Rasmussen/AP
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Mads Claus Rasmussen/AP
NUUK, Greenland — In a surprising turn of events, the center-right Demokraatit Party has emerged victorious in Greenland’s parliamentary elections, with the outcome looming large under the influence of U.S. President Donald Trump’s ambitions regarding the island.
Both the Demokraatit Party — known as the Democrats — and the opposition party, Naleraq — “Point of Orientation” — advocate for independence from Denmark, albeit with differing approaches to how quickly that should happen.
Demokraatit’s unexpected triumph over long-standing political parties suggests a strong public preference for issues such as healthcare, education, cultural identity, and other social policies.
“This is a historic moment in Greenland’s political history,” declared Demokraatit leader Jens-Frederik Nielsen at the post-election gathering.
Reports indicate that Nielsen, aged 33, was noticeably surprised by his party’s success, with images capturing him smiling and applauding at the election gathering.
As reported by Denmark’s DR Broadcasting Corporation, Nielsen expressed intentions to engage with all parties to chart the future political direction for Greenland.
“We didn’t foresee this outcome in the elections,” Nielsen told KNR TV, the Greenlandic Broadcasting Corporation. “We are extremely pleased.”
Nielsen further emphasized the need for Greenland to unite “during this period of intense external interest,” according to KNR TV’s report.
In February, Prime Minister Mute Bourup Egede called for the early elections, asserting that the country needed cohesion during an “unprecedented serious time” for Greenland.
After the election results were announced, Egede extended gratitude to voters via a Facebook post, highlighting the readiness of the parties to initiate negotiations for forming a government.
Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen congratulated the Demokraatit Party and remarked that the forthcoming Greenlandic government would likely face “significant pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump,” as reported by DR.
Poulsen emphasized that it’s not permissible to simply seize a part of the Danish Realm — the future of Greenland should indeed align with the desires of the Greenlandic people and government, according to DR.
Trump has been vocal about his aspiration to control Greenland, stating in a recent speech to Congress that he believes the U.S. will acquire it “one way or the other.”
Greenland, which operates under a self-governance model as a part of Denmark, is strategically positioned over key air and sea routes in the North Atlantic and is rich in rare earth minerals essential for various technologies, including mobile phones and renewable energy systems.
The outcome of the elections was widely anticipated to favor Egede’s Inuit Ataqatigiit (United Inuit) party, followed by Siumut, two parties that have historically dominated Greenland’s political landscape.
An explicit independence vote was not presented to the electorate, yet it lingered in the background of voters’ minds. The island, home to 56,000 inhabitants, has been charting a course towards independence since at least 2009, with the newly elected 31 members to significantly influence the discussions regarding the timing and nature of declaring independence.
While four out of the five key political parties were in favor of independence, they differed in their respective timelines and methodologies.
Naleraq takes a more aggressive stance on independence, while Demokraatit advocates for a more measured approach.
“The strategy regarding independence will ultimately hinge on whether Demokraatit opts to form a coalition government and, if so, which party they choose to align with,” stated Dwayne Menezes, managing director of the Polar Research and Policy Initiative.
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