NUUK, Denmark – The center-right opposition has won a surprise victory in legislative elections in Greenland, the Danish territory coveted by US President Donald Trump, as support surged for the nationalist Naleraq party seeking independence as soon as possible.
While vote counting was not yet complete on Wednesday morning, the Democratic party — which describes itself as “social liberal” and has also called for independence but in the longer term — held an insurmountable lead, Greenland’s public broadcaster KNR said.
The nationalist Naleraq party, the most ardent of the pro-independence parties, was meanwhile headed for a “stunning” election score, it said.
Never before has an election in Greenland garnered as much international interest, following Trump’s recently stated ambitions to take control of the territory.
“We respect the election result,” outgoing Prime Minister Mute Egede, who leads the left-green Inuit Ataqatigiit party, told KNR, while the leader of the Siumut party, IA’s coalition partner, conceded defeat.
With none of the parties set to win a majority of the 31 seats in parliament, negotiations to form a coalition will be held in the coming days.
The future government is expected to map out a timeline for independence, which is backed by a large majority of Greenland’s 57,000 inhabitants.
“The Democrats are open to talks with all parties and are seeking unity. Especially with what is going on in the world,” said the party’s 33-year-old leader Jens–Frederik Nielsen, Greenland’s former badminton champion.
