NUUK, Greenland (AP) — The Demokraatit Party, a conservative-leaning party, won the majority of votes in the parliamentary elections in Greenland, a surprising result as the territory went to the polls under the shadow of the declared goal of United States President Donald Trump to take control of the island in one way or another.
Both Demokraatit - the Democrats - and the second most voted party, Naleraq - “Point of Orientation” - are in favor of the independence of Denmark.
But the surprising victory of Demokraatit over the parties that have governed the territory for years indicates that many in Greenland are also concerned about social issues such as healthcare, education, cultural heritage, and other social policies.
The unexpected results occurred after huge crowds flocked to the polling center set up in the capital, Nuuk, throughout the day, under a sunny sky.
The exhausted election officials closed the polling stations long after eight o’clock on Tuesday evening to make sure that everyone in line had the opportunity to cast their vote.
The Prime Minister, Mute Bourup Egede, called for early elections in February, arguing that the country needed to be united in a “delicate moment” unlike anything Greenland had experienced before.
Why does Trump want to take control of Greenland?
Trump has been very clear about his desire to control Greenland: in a joint session of Congress last week, he indicated that he thought the United States was going to get it “one way or another.”
Greenland, a self-governing region of Denmark, is located on strategic air and sea routes in the North Atlantic and has rich deposits of rare earth minerals necessary for manufacturing everything from mobile phones to renewable energy technology.
Why was there surprise in the Greenland elections?
The victory of the Inuit Ataqatigiit (United Inuit) party of Egede was expected, followed by Siumut, the two parties that have dominated Greenland’s politics in recent years.
The break with Denmark was not on the ballot, but it was on everyone’s mind. The island, which has 56,000 inhabitants, has been on a path towards independence since at least 2009, and the 31 elected legislators will shape its future as they debate whether the time has come to declare independence.
Four out of the five main parties are seeking independence, but they disagree on when and how.
Naleraq is the most aggressive towards independence, while Demokraatit favors a more moderate pace of change.
“Which approach towards independence will prevail ultimately depends on whether Demokraatit decides to form a coalition government, and if so, with which party,” said Dwayne Menezes, Director General of the Polar Research and Policy Initiative.