Democrats (Greenland)

Political party in Greenland

Democrats

Demokraatit (Greenlandic)
Demokraterne (Danish)

Abbreviation| D
Leader| Jens-Frederik Nielsen
Political Vice| Steen Lynge
Organizational Vice| Nivi Olsen
Founded| 28 November 2002 (2002-11-28)
Headquarters| Inatsisartut, 3900 Nuuk
Youth wing| Demokraatit Inuusuttaat
Ideology| Soft Greenlandic independence
Liberalism
Social liberalism[1]
Historically:
Danish unionism
Political position| Centre[2][3] to centre-right[4][5]
National affiliation| Liberal Alliance (2025–present)[6]
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|

21 / 81

Mayors|

2 / 5

Folketing
(Greenland seats)|

0 / 2

Website
www.demokraatit.gl

* Politics of Greenland
* Political parties
* Elections

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.[7] The party's position has in the past few years[when?] 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.[8] Two of the major priorities in its programme are improving educational standards and the housing situation.[2]

## History

[edit]

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.[9] 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 to pursue full independence until Greenland is self sufficient.[10][11]

## Election results

[edit]

### Inatsisartut

[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  | Coalition

### 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]

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. ^ Loukacheva, Natalia (2007). The Arctic Promise: Legal and Political Autonomy of Greenland and Nunavut. University of Toronto Press. p. 55.
5. ^ "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.
6. ^ Ritzau. "Liberal Alliance indgår samarbejde med grønlandsk parti". Kristeligt Dagblad (in Danish). Retrieved 2025-03-15.
7. ^ Loukacheva (2007). The Arctic Promise. p. 61.
8. ^ "Partiprogram". Demokraatit (in Danish). 2018-03-07. Retrieved 2025-03-12.
9. ^ 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.
10. ^ Lauritzen, Pia. "Greenland Has Spoken: What Trump Doesn't Get About Us". Forbes.
11. ^ "Greenland election won by centre-right party who told Trump 'we are not for sale'". The Independent. March 12, 2025.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website

* v
* t
* e

Political parties in Greenland

Bracketed numbers indicate numbers of seats in the respective parliaments.

Inatsisartut|

| Government|

* Demokraatit (10)
* Inuit Ataqatigiit (7)
* Siumut (4)
* Atassut (2)

|

Opposition|

* Naleraq (8)

Folketing|

* Inuit Ataqatigiit (1)
* Siumut (1)

Unrepresented|

* Qulleq

Defunct|

* Association of Candidates
* Centre
* Cooperation
* Inuit
* Labour
* Nunatta Qitornai
* Polar
* Roots
* Sukaq
* Women's

* Politics of Greenland
* See also: Politics of Denmark and the Faroe Islands
* Portal:Politics
* List of political parties

* v
* t
* e

Political parties in Denmark

Bracketed numbers indicate numbers of seats in the respective parliaments.

Folketing|

| Government|

* Social Democrats (50)
* Venstre (23)
* The Moderates (13)

|

Opposition|

* Denmark Democrats (16)
* Green Left (15)
* Liberal Alliance (15)
* Conservative People's Party (10)
* Red–Green Alliance (9)
* Danish People's Party (7)
* Danish Social Liberal Party (6)
* The Alternative (5)
* Citizens' Party (1)

Faroe Islands|

* Union Party (1) (provide support)
* Social Democratic Party (1) (provide support)

Greenland|

* Inuit Ataqatigiit (1)
* Siumut (1) (provide support)

European Parliament|

* Green Left (3)
* Social Democrats (3)
* Venstre (2)
* Conservative People's Party (1)
* Denmark Democrats (1)
* Danish Social Liberal Party (1)
* Red-Green Alliance (1)
* Liberal Alliance (1)
* Danish People's Party (1)
* Moderates (1)

Formerly represented|

* Society of the Friends of Peasants
* National Liberal Party
* Højre
* Tscherning's Venstre
* Hansen's Venstre
* Mellempartiet
* National Venstre
* People's Venstre
* United Venstre
* Bjørnbakske Venstre
* Independent Venstre
* Venstre of the Folketing
* Moderate Venstre
* Højre
* Clear Venstre
* Free Conservatives
* Venstre Reform Party
* Industry Party
* Farmers' Party
* National Socialist Workers' Party of Denmark
* Danish Unity
* Capital's Venstre
* Peace Politics People's Party
* Schleswig Party
* Independent Party
* Liberal Centre
* Communist Party of Denmark
* Justice Party
* Left Socialists
* Free Democrats
* Common Course
* Progress Party
* Centre Democrats
* Freedom 2000
* Christian Democrats
* June Movement
* People's Movement against the EU
* Forward
* Independent Greens
* The New Right

* Politics of Denmark, the Faroe Islands and Greenland
* Portal:Politics
* List of political parties by country

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