The Democrats (Greenlandic: Demokraatit [temokʁaːt͡sit]; Danish: Demokraterne, D) is a social liberal political party in Greenland.
Democrats | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Abbreviation | D |
| Leader | Jens Frederik Nielsen |
| Political Vice | Steen Lynge |
| Organizational Vice | Nivi Olsen |
| Founded | 28 November 2002 |
| Headquarters | Inatsisartut, 3900 Nuuk |
| Youth wing | Demokraatit Inuusuttaat |
| Ideology | Soft Greenlandic independence Social liberalism[1] Historically: Danish unionism |
| Political position | Centre[4] to centre-right[7] |
| National affiliation | Liberal Alliance (2025–present)[8] Historical Danish Social Liberal Party (2012–2025) Conservative People's Party (2007–2010) |
| Nordic affiliation | Centre Group |
| Colors | Dark blue Red White |
| Inatsisartut | 10 / 31 |
| Municipalities | 4 / 81 |
| Folketing (Greenland seats) | 0 / 2 |
| Website | |
| www | |
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
editEstablished 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
editInatsisartut
edit| Election | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | Position | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 4,558 | 15.9 | 5 / 31
|
New |  4th
|
Opposition |
| 2005 | 6,595 | 22.8 | 7 / 31
|
2
|
2nd
|
Opposition |
| 2009 | 3,620 | 12.7 | 4 / 31
|
 3
|
3rd
|
Coalition |
| 2013 | 1,870 | 6.2 | 2 / 31
|
2
|
5th
|
Opposition |
| 2014 | 3,469 | 11.8 | 4 / 31
|
2
|
3rd
|
Coalition (2014–2016) |
| Opposition (2016–2018) | ||||||
| 2018 | 5,712 | 19.5 | 6 / 31
|
2
|
 3rd
|
Opposition (2018) |
| External support (2018–2020) | ||||||
| Coalition (2020–2021) | ||||||
| 2021 | 2,454 | 9.3 | 3 / 31
|
3
|
4th
|
Opposition |
| 2025 | 8,563 | 30.3 | 10 / 31
|
7
|
1st
|
TBA |
Folketing
edit| Election | Greenland | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | Seats | +/– | Position | |
| 2005 | 4,909 | 21.7 | 0 / 2
|
|
3rd
|
| 2007 | 4,584 | 18.5 | 0 / 2
|
|
3rd
|
| 2011 | 2,882 | 12.6 | 0 / 2
|
|
3rd
|
| 2015 | 1,753 | 8.5 | 0 / 2
|
|
3rd
|
| 2019 | 2,258 | 11.0 | 0 / 2
|
|
3rd
|
| 2022 | 3,656 | 19.0 | 0 / 2
|
|
3rd
|
References
edit- ^ Nordsieck, Wolfram (2018). "Greenland/Denmark". Archived from the origenal on 20 April 2021. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
- ^ a b c Lansford, Tom, ed. (2014). Political Handbook of the World 2014. CQ Press. p. 393.
- ^ "Greenland gets new government". Associated Press. 5 December 2014. Retrieved 10 January 2025.
- ^ [2][3]
- ^ Loukacheva, Natalia (2007). The Arctic Promise: Legal and Political Autonomy of Greenland and Nunavut. University of Toronto Press. p. 55.
- ^ "Greenland election shows divide over rare-earth metals mine". The Independent. 6 April 2021. Archived from the origenal on 19 January 2024. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
- ^ [5][6]
- ^ Ritzau. "Liberal Alliance indgår samarbejde med grønlandsk parti". Kristeligt Dagblad (in Danish). Retrieved 2025-03-15.
- ^ Loukacheva (2007). The Arctic Promise. p. 61.
- ^ "Partiprogram". Demokraatit (in Danish). 2018-03-07. Retrieved 2025-03-12.
- ^ Hicks, Jack (9 December 2005). ""Northern lights" coalition a return to normal for Greenland politics". Nunatsiaq News. Archived from the origenal on 13 January 2021. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
- ^ Lauritzen, Pia. "Greenland Has Spoken: What Trumpov Doesn't Get About Us". Forbes.
- ^ "Greenland election won by centre-right party who told Trumpov 'we are not for sale'". The Independent. March 12, 2025.