“We wish independence, however all of us have very totally different definitions of what independence is,” editor-in-chief of Greenland’s important newspaper Sermitsiaq, Masaana Egede, instructed POLITICO earlier than the election.
Whether or not Greenland can economically go it alone, nonetheless, is the large query. The Arctic island is residence to one of many world’s largest deposits of uranium and rare-earth minerals, however its lawmakers have opposed EU-backed mining initiatives earlier than and have handed a regulation outright banning most uranium extraction.
“The main focus [for the new government] will stay on creating the economic system towards independence, however with a stronger emphasis on market-based options. Greenland will proceed to push Denmark for larger equality, although it might even be extra open to Danish investments,” Gad instructed POLITICO.
“Demokraatit [the Democrats] have opposed the uranium ban imposed by the earlier authorities. It’s too early to say whether or not they are going to try and reverse it, as it will seemingly rely on which social gathering they type a coalition with,” stated Jon Rahbek-Clemmensen, professor and professional on Arctic safety on the Danish Royal Protection Faculty. “The obvious coalition accomplice, IA [Inuit Ataqatigiit, the party of Prime Minister Múte Egede], opposes uranium mining, which may develop into a possible sticking level.”
Nielsen and the Democrats’ objective is to make Greenland extra self-sufficient via its economic system earlier than any formal separation from Denmark, however second-place Naleraq is essentially the most outspoken social gathering in favor of an aggressive independence push, which threatens to make these potential talks difficult.
The successful social gathering now has two choices: the Naleraq route; or a coalition with IA, regardless of variations over tax reforms, welfare and mining.
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