The liberal party Demokraatit (The Democrats), which advocates for Greenland’s independence gradually, won Tuesday’s elections with 30% of the vote. The list led by Jens-Frederik Nielsen, a 33-year-old former badminton player, surprised many by tripling its support compared to the last elections four years ago. In second place, with 25% of the vote, was Naleraq, a populist and strongly pro-independence party that calls for the immediate start of the self-determination process. Meanwhile, the two parties in the current ruling coalition—the left-wing Inuit Ataqatigiit and the social-democratic Siumut—suffered a major setback, losing half of their seats.
Greenland’s parliamentary elections, held on the world’s largest island, attracted unprecedented international media attention due to recent statements by Donald Trump, who has repeatedly expressed his intention to annex this autonomous Danish territory to the United States. With a population of just 57,000, Greenland holds immense geostrategic value and vast natural resources. The U.S. president reiterated that “ownership and control” of the island are “an absolute necessity” and did not rule out the use of military force.
Five of the six parties that ran in the election support independence from Denmark, though they differ on when and how to proceed. According to the Self-Government Act approved in 2009, Greenland has the right to self-determination. To achieve independence, the Greenlandic Parliament (Inatsisartut) would need to vote in favor of initiating the process, negotiate the terms of separation with Copenhagen, and submit the agreement to a referendum, followed by approval in the Danish Parliament.
Greenland was a Danish colony from the early 18th century until 1953, when it became part of the Kingdom of Denmark. In 1979, it gained autonomous status through a referendum, and in 2009, its powers were significantly expanded. However, key areas such as defense, foreign policy, and monetary control remain under Danish authority.
Demokraatit envisions Greenland as a sovereign state and a future member of the United Nations but has not set a specific timeline for independence. The party believes the economy must first be strengthened before any independence efforts begin. Currently, Greenland is heavily dependent on financial support from Copenhagen, which provides an annual subsidy of over 500 million euros, accounting for nearly half of the public budget. To reduce this dependence, Demokraatit advocates expanding key sectors such as mining—currently limited to just two active mines—hydrocarbon extraction, and tourism.
Naleraq, on the other hand, calls for an immediate break from Denmark and has been the most receptive party to Trump’s proposals. During the campaign, it suggested the possibility of signing a free association treaty with the U.S. in exchange for financial aid and security guarantees. The party doubled its support from the previous election, securing 24.5% of the vote. Led by entrepreneur and aviation pilot Pele Broberg, Naleraq dominated in smaller, more remote settlements but performed less strongly in Nuuk, the capital, and other major cities.
Another openly secessionist party, Qulleq, barely surpassed 1% of the vote and will not have parliamentary representation.
Greenland’s Prime Minister, Múte Egede, leader of the eco-socialist Inuit Ataqatigiit, suffered a major blow in these elections, securing just over 20% of the vote compared to 36% in 2021. His governing partner, Siumut, fared even worse, falling to 15%, half of what it achieved four years ago. This marks the first time that neither Siumut nor Inuit Ataqatigiit—historically the dominant political forces in Greenland—has won an election.
Atassut, the only party in favor of maintaining the status quo with Denmark, finished in fifth place with 7% of the vote, a result similar to 2021.
After the vote count concluded at 3:30 AM (6:30 AM in mainland Spain), Jens-Frederik Nielsen told Greenlandic television that he would hold talks with all parties to form a government. When asked specifically about a possible alliance with Naleraq, he acknowledged that he could not ignore a party that secured a quarter of the vote. He also emphasized the importance of adopting a “calm strategy” regarding the United States and the need to build a solid economic foundation before discussing independence.
Demokraatit will hold 10 of the 31 seats in Parliament. To secure a majority, it will need the support of either Naleraq’s eight representatives or Inuit Ataqatigiit’s seven. Shortly after the final results were announced, Prime Minister Egede expressed his willingness to negotiate with Nielsen in a Facebook post.
