Denmark's stance in Greenland to alter following election outcome

Greenland's Surprise Election Wave:* Add a comment

The center-right opposition in Greenland has clinched a surprise victory in the country's legislative elections, and the nation's relations with Denmark may take an interesting turn.

In a dramatic shift, the center-right Democratic party boosted its support significantly from the 2021 election, securing a whopping 29.9% of the votes. But it was the nationalist Naleraq party that really caught everyone's attention. They seek independence as soon as possible and snatched up an impressive 24.5% of the votes.

The Democratic party, known as "social liberal," has also expressed support for independence eventually, but the longer-term approach contrasts sharply with Naleraq's aggressive stance.

As no party managed to win a majority of the 31 seats in parliament, negotiations for coalition-building will commence shortly.

READ ALSO: *Greenland's opposition notches up a surprising election win amidst a nationalist surge*

A Greenlandic election has never drawn as much attention in Denmark as the one in 2025, according to Danish broadcaster DR's political analyst Jens Ringberg. The interest, he says, has primarily focused on Naleraq.

"There has been enormous interest in how things would turn out specifically for Naleraq," Ringberg stated during a news program.

Naleraq has made its mark on Greenlandic politics with its relentless advocacy for a swift break from Denmark. Although Naleraq had a strong election, the stable positions of other parties are likely to bring some relief in Copenhagen.

"There will be relief that a number of parties - the traditional ones - have still received a significant share of the vote. They also want independence but prefer a gradual approach," Ringberg said.

"And there will be relief that Naleraq didn't win far more votes," he added.

Though Demokraatit has been declared the election winner, the center-right group still doesn't hold an overall majority in the Greenlandic parliament, Inatsisartut. This means they'll need to strike deals with other parties to form a government.

Aaja Chemnitz, IA () party representative, expressed cautious optimism for potential cooperation with Demokraatit due to a need for stability.

"There is still a need for stability, and IA is a guarantor of that," Chemnitz, who represents IA as one of the two Greenlandic lawmakers elected to the Danish parliament, said.

IA, a left-wing party that supports gradual independence while emphasizing social welfare and environmental issues, has traditionally played a pivotal role in the island's politics.

Chemnitz suggested that voters in Greenland are drawn to parties that are clear about their positions on independence, regardless of specific positions.

"There are many who support a policy of gaining independence quickly, but I also think a lot of people recognize that Demokraatit has been much clearer than some of the other major parties in stating a desire to slow things down a bit when it comes to independence," Chemnitz said.

In a statement to DR, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen announced, "The Danish government will await the outcome of the negotiations now taking place in Greenland."

"But we look forward to working with Greenland's next Naalakkersuisut [government]," she added.

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The surprise election victory of the center-right opposition in Greenland has brought a new proportion of political dynamics, with the Naleraq party advocating for a swift independence, making headlines in Denmark's general-news and political circles.
The Greenlandic election results, showing a surge in nationalist sentiments, have raised questions about the stability of the existing relationship between Greenland and Denmark.
Despite the triumph of the center-right parties, their approach to independence differs vastly, with the Democratic party favoring a gradual strategy compared to Naleraq's aggressive stance.
As no single party secured a majority in Greenland's parliament, negotiations for coalition-building will determine the future political landscape of the island, as well as its relationship with Denmark.
With Naleraq making significant strides in the election, the general-news genre has been witnessing increased interest, sparking debates and discussions among political analysts and the public.