Polls opened on Tuesday for an election to the Inatsisartut, Greenland’s legislative body, with 40,000 eligible to vote for the 31-seat parliament. Polls are scheduled to close at 8 p.m. local time (2200 UTC) and ballot counting could take weeks since votes from remote areas need to be transported by boat, plane, and helicopter. While healthcare and education remain key issues in the campaign, discussions about Greenland’s future relationship with Denmark have been dominating the election. Currently, Greenland is a self-governing territory under Danish control, with Copenhagen managing its foreign affairs, defense, and monetary policy. Pro-independence supporters hope for a strong mandate that could accelerate Greenland’s path toward full sovereignty.

The election has drawn international attention, partly due to US President Donald Trump’s ongoing attempts to influence the island’s political landscape. During his second term, Trump has once again expressed strong interest in Greenland, declaring his intention to gain control over the Arctic territory “one way or the other.” His last-minute efforts and statements to sway the election have sparked both astonishment and rejection from Greenlanders. While opinion polls suggest that most Greenlanders do not support becoming part of the United States, economic factors may also be driving US interest in Greenland. The island is believed to have valuable deposits of oil, gas, gold, uranium, and zinc, particularly in its southern regions. As climate change alters Greenland’s ecological landscape, these resources may become easier to extract, increasing the island’s geopolitical significance.

Source: https://www.dw.com/en/greenland-polls-open-in-parliamentary-election/a-71884152?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf