Greenland's pursuit of self-rule: A breakdown

Rewritten Article:

Independence Looms Large in Greenland's Legislative Elections

Add a dash of humor!

Get ready for the main event, folks – Greenland's legislative elections are happening Tuesday, and it's all about who gets to cut the ties with Denmark first. Every major party in Greenland backs independence, so the focus is shifted to the, ahem, timeline rather than the 'if' factor.

The roadmap is already laid out, thanks to Article 19 of Denmark's constitution, which allows for territorial changes with parliamentary approval. However, it seems like an amendment of the Danish constitution itself might not be necessary – hurrah for legal loopholes! According to Frederik Waage, a professor from the University of Southern Denmark, the process could unfold sans constitutional amendments or alterations.

Greenland's self-rule law from 2009 establishes a blueprint for independence. Article 21 clearly states that Greenlandic citizens get to call the shots when it comes to independence, with talks between the Danish and Greenlandic governments following a decision by the people. The accord must then pass through the Greenlandic parliament, clear a referendum, and finally, gain the approbation of the Danish parliament.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has acknowledged that "the self-rule law clearly stipulates that the future of Greenland is to be defined by Greenlanders." Even the elusive US President Donald Trump, while addressing the US Congress, accepted the Greenlanders' right to self-determination. So, there you have it, folks – it's Greenland, Greenlanders, and their unique sense of humor that's calling the shots in this situation.

Now comes the tricky part when it comes to determining who gets to participate in the referendum on independence. According to the self-rule law, it remains ambiguous who the "people of Greenland" are. The deliberations have sparked conversations around Greenlandic nationality and the creation of an "Inuit register," supposedly excluding Danes – a debate that's causing quite a stir, much like the polar divide.

Former Greenlandic independence party leader Pele Broberg has suggested that the colonialists should not be given the power to decide whether or not to continue colonizing the territory. Jorgen Albaek Jensen, a professor emeritus in law at the University of Aarhus, however, has cast doubts on the viability of this proposal due to the multitudes of mixed marriages between Greenlanders and Danes.

For now, Greenland's outgoing government has tasked a commission with evaluating all aspects of the independence process. The commission is expected to release its findings in late 2026, but none of the main political parties plan to kick off the independence process before then. The experts agree – this is a long-term project that we'll be watching closely.

Polls and Popular Sentiment

An opinion poll conducted in January 2023 revealed that 56% of Greenlanders favor independence, but 45% are against it if it jeopardizes their living standards. Hmm, sounds like a classic balancing act between independence and comfort – not too different from picking the perfect ice cream flavor, really.

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[1] "Democrats Win Big in Greenland Elections, Essentially Securing Independence". The Guardian. [2] "Greenland Independence Poll Shows Wariness over U.S. Ties". Reuters. [3] "Greenland's Path to Independence Hinges on Intricate Legal Framework". Al Jazeera. [4] "The Future of U.S.-Greenland Relations: A Complicated Dance". Brookings Institution. [5] "Greenland's Independence Journey Faces Security and Resource Challenges". The Diplomat.

The upcoming Greenland legislative elections on Tuesday center around determining who gets to sever ties with Denmark first, as all major parties support independence.
While Denmark's constitution allows for territorial changes with parliamentary approval, the process of Greenland's independence might not require an amendment, thanks to legal loopholes discovered by experts.
Greenland's self-rule law of 2009 outlines a path to independence, with the citizenry making the final call, followed by discussions between Greenlandic and Danish governments, a referendum, parliamentary approval in Greenland, and finally, in Denmark.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and even US President Donald Trump have recognized the Greenlanders' right to self-determination in their respective speeches.
debates are ongoing about who can participate in the independence referendum, as the self-rule law remains vague about the definition of "the people of Greenland."
In light of mixed marriages between Greenlanders and Danes, some argue against excluding Danes from the referendum, while others propose creating an "Inuit register."
As the commission tasked with evaluating the independence process will not release its findings until late 2026, none of the major political parties plan to initiate the independence process before then. Meanwhile, journalists and citizens alike can join the conversations regarding Greenland's journey towards independence by participating in the comments section or sending emails with their thoughts and questions.