 "Lars Jorgen Kleist, wearing a MAGA hat, prepares to cast his vote during the general election in Nuuk, Greenland, March 11, 2025. Reuters")
Greenland’s centre-right, pro-business opposition party saw a spectacular surge in vote share in the widely-watched elections in the country.
Never before has an election in Greenland garnered as much international interest, following Trump’s recently stated ambitions to take control of the territory.
Possibly signalling a Trump effect, turnout in Tuesday’s (March 11) election was higher than usual, election officials said.
Who won the Greenland elections?
The opposition Demokraatit party (Democratic party) won Tuesday’s legislative elections in Greenland, the Danish territory coveted by US President Donald Trump, as nationalists who campaigned for independence as soon as possible surged, public broadcaster KNR reported.
After ballots were counted in the capital Nuuk, the party, which describes itself as “social liberal” and which has also called for independence but in the longer term, held a lead that could not be beaten.
The nationalist Naleraq party, the most ardent of the pro-independence parties, was meanwhile headed for a “stunning” election score, KNR said.
“We respect the election result,” said outgoing Prime Minister Mute Egede, leader of the left-green Inuit Ataqatigiit (IA) party, during an interview with KNR. The leader of the Siumut party, IA’s coalition partner, also admitted defeat.
Greenland to get coalition government
Since no party is expected to secure a majority of the 31 seats in parliament, negotiations to form a coalition will take place in the coming days.
The future government is likely to outline a timeline for independence, which is supported by a significant majority of Greenland’s 57,000 residents.
“The Democrats are open to talks with all parties and are seeking unity. Especially with what is going on in the world,” stated the party’s 33-year-old leader, Jens–Frederik Nielsen, who is also Greenland’s former badminton champion. He expressed surprise at his party’s victory.
With inputs from agencies