Trump debate: Parliamentary election in Greenland started

Overshadow of ownership claims by US President Donald Trump has started a highly expected parliamentary election on the Eisinsel Greenland. Until 8:00 p.m. (11:00 p.m. CET), the just more than 40,000 voters among the Greenlanders can hand over their votes. A preliminary election result should be determined during the night of Wednesday.

213 candidates from six parties hope for one of the 31 seats in parliament in StatisArtut. The strongest force has been the left party Inuit Ataqatigiit (IA) by Prime Minister Múte B. Eggede since the past election in 2021. She only ruled together with the independence -oriented Naleraq, then with the Social Democratic Party. Ia and Siumut are generally considered the strongest political forces on the largest island on earth.

Trump statements are fueling independence debate

Election outputs in Greenland with its small population of just under 57,000 island citizens are generally difficult to predict. The most important question is how the next government sees a possible independence from the Kingdom of Denmark, which Greenland still belongs to today. The independence debate has been smoldering on the island for decades, but Trump’s desires recently fueled them strongly.

In principle, the majority of the parties agree that one day Greenland should become independent of its former colonial power Denmark, to which it maintains a tense ratio. However, they are disagreed when the right time could have come. The main sticking point is the still strong financial dependence on Copenhagen.

Trump has been doing around Greenland for months. Most recently, he had interfered in the hot phase of the election campaign by promising new jobs and wealth to the Greenlanders through his Truth Social Platform. Eggede accused Trump disrespect. “We deserve to be treated with respect. And I don’t think the American President has done this since taking office,” he said in an interview of the Danish broadcaster Dr.

Election campaign under the impression of Trump

In addition to the discussions about Trump and independence, the problems of the health system, but also high living costs as well as social, educational and pension issues, played a role in the election campaign.

Greenland with its huge ice sheet is six times the size of Germany as Germany, but only has a population that corresponds to a medium-sized German city like Baden-Baden or Frankfurt an der Oder. The island is of great importance for the world climate, the military control of the Arctic and is also rich in raw materials such as rare earths. In addition, important shipping routes run in the region.