Greenland’s centre-right opposition has received a shock common election victory – in a vote dominated by independence and US President Donald Trump’s pledge to take over the semi-autonomous territory.
The centre-right Demokraatit occasion – which favours a gradual strategy to independence from Denmark – achieved round 30% of the vote, near-complete outcomes present.
“Greenland wants us to face collectively in a time of nice curiosity from exterior,” occasion chief Jens Frederik Nielsen instructed native media. “There’s a want for unity, so we’ll enter into negotiations with everybody.”
His occasion will now have to barter with different events as a way to type a coalition.
Greenland – the world’s greatest island, between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans – has been managed by Denmark, practically 3,000km (1,860 miles) away, for about 300 years.
Greenland governs its personal home affairs, however selections on overseas and defence coverage are made in Copenhagen.
5 of the six predominant events within the election favour independence from Copenhagen, however disagree over the tempo with which to succeed in it.
The Democratic occasion, whose vote was up by greater than 20% on 2021, is taken into account a reasonable occasion on independence.
One other opposition occasion, Naleraq, which is trying to to right away kick-off the independence course of and forge nearer ties with the US, was on the right track for second place with nearly 1 / 4 of the vote.
The 2 present governing events, Inuit Ataqatigiit (IA) and Siumut, are heading for third and fourth place – marking an upset for Prime Minister Mute B Egede.
About 44,000 Greenlanders out of a inhabitants of 57,000 have been eligible to solid their votes to elect 31 MPs, in addition to the native authorities. Six events have been on the poll.
The voting passed off at 72 polling stations scattered throughout the huge island.
Greenland’s strategic location and untapped mineral sources have caught Trump’s eye. He first floated the concept of shopping for the island throughout his first time period in 2019.
Since taking workplace once more in January, Trump has reiterated his intention to accumulate the territory.
“We’d like Greenland for nationwide safety. By hook or by crook we’re gonna get it,” he mentioned throughout his handle to the US Congress final week.
Greenland and Denmark’s leaders have repeatedly rebuffed his calls for.
Egede has made clear that Greenland just isn’t on the market, and deserves to be “handled with respect”.
