The Democrats (Greenlandic: Demokraatit [temokʁaːt͡sit]; Danish: Demokraterne, D) is a social liberal political party in Greenland.

Historically a unionist party, the Democrats have traditionally been sceptical of Greenlandic independence and even further self-governance.[9] The party's position has in the past few years shifted to remaining within the Danish Realm for the foreseeable future, with independence as the end goal of a gradual process that starts with increased self-determination.[10] Two of the major priorities in its programme are improving educational standards and the housing situation.[2]

History

Established in 2002, the party won five seats in the elections that year. It increased its seat total to seven in the 2005 elections, but was excluded from power by a so-called "Northern Lights Coalition" of Siumut, Inuit Ataqatigiit and Atassut.[11] Its number of seats decreased to four in the 2009 elections; however, it entered a government coalition with Inuit Ataqatigiit and the Association of Candidates, removing the formerly dominant Siumut from power for the first time in its history.[2] In the 2013 elections, the party won only two seats, but gained two more seats at the 2014 elections. In the 2018 elections, the party gained an additional two seats. It shrank to three in the 2021 elections. The party had its best election results in the 2025 elections, when it became Greenland's largest party for the first time.

The party supports a more gradual process of gaining independence from Denmark compared to Naleraq, Inuit Ataqatigiit and Siumut, not wanting do pursue full independence until Greenland is self sufficient.[12][13]

Election results

Inatsisartut

Election Votes % Seats +/– Position Status
2002 4,558 15.9
5 / 31
 New Increase 4th Opposition
2005 6,595 22.8
7 / 31
 Increase 2 Increase 2nd Opposition
2009 3,620 12.7
4 / 31
 Decrease 3 Decrease 3rd Coalition
2013 1,870 6.2
2 / 31
 Decrease 2 Decrease 5th Opposition
2014 3,469 11.8
4 / 31
 Increase 2 Increase 3rd Coalition (2014–2016)
Opposition (2016–2018)
2018 5,712 19.5
6 / 31
 Increase 2 Steady 3rd Opposition (2018)
External support (2018–2020)
Coalition (2020–2021)
2021 2,454 9.3
3 / 31
 Decrease 3 Decrease 4th Opposition
2025 8,563 30.3
10 / 31
 Increase 7 Increase 1st TBA

Folketing

Election Greenland
Votes % Seats +/– Position
2005 4,909 21.7
0 / 2
 Steady Increase 3rd
2007 4,584 18.5
0 / 2
 Steady Steady 3rd
2011 2,882 12.6
0 / 2
 Steady Steady 3rd
2015 1,753 8.5
0 / 2
 Steady Steady 3rd
2019 2,258 11.0
0 / 2
 Steady Steady 3rd
2022 3,656 19.0
0 / 2
 Steady Steady 3rd

References

  1. ^ Nordsieck, Wolfram (2018). "Greenland/Denmark". Archived from the original on 20 April 2021. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
  2. ^ a b c Lansford, Tom, ed. (2014). Political Handbook of the World 2014. CQ Press. p. 393.
  3. ^ "Greenland gets new government". Associated Press. 5 December 2014. Retrieved 10 January 2025.
  4. ^ [2][3]
  5. ^ Loukacheva, Natalia (2007). The Arctic Promise: Legal and Political Autonomy of Greenland and Nunavut. University of Toronto Press. p. 55.
  6. ^ "Greenland election shows divide over rare-earth metals mine". The Independent. 6 April 2021. Archived from the original on 19 January 2024. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  7. ^ [5][6]
  8. ^ Ritzau. "Liberal Alliance indgår samarbejde med grønlandsk parti". Kristeligt Dagblad (in Danish). Retrieved 2025-03-15.
  9. ^ Loukacheva (2007). The Arctic Promise. p. 61.
  10. ^ "Partiprogram". Demokraatit (in Danish). 2018-03-07. Retrieved 2025-03-12.
  11. ^ Hicks, Jack (9 December 2005). ""Northern lights" coalition a return to normal for Greenland politics". Nunatsiaq News. Archived from the original on 13 January 2021. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  12. ^ Lauritzen, Pia. "Greenland Has Spoken: What Trump Doesn't Get About Us". Forbes.
  13. ^ "Greenland election won by centre-right party who told Trump 'we are not for sale'". The Independent. March 12, 2025.
Allikas: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demokraatit
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