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The Democrats (Greenlandic: Demokraatit [temokʁaːt͡sit]; Danish: Demokraterne) is a liberal, unionist political party in Greenland.
Democrats Demokraatit | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Danish name | Demokraterne |
| 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 | Greenlandic unionism[1] Social liberalism[1] |
| Political position | Centre[2] to centre-right[3][4] |
| National affiliation | Conservative People's Party (2007–2010) Danish Social Liberal Party (since 2012) |
| Nordic affiliation | Centre Group |
| Colors | Dark blue Red White |
| Inatsisartut | 3 / 31 |
| Municipalities | 4 / 81 |
| Folketing (Greenland seats) | 0 / 2 |
| Website | |
| www | |
The party is skeptical of Greenlandic independence and even further self-governance. It has taken over this position from the Atassut party, which has developed towards favouring more autonomy.[5] 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.[6] 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.
Election results
editParliament of Greenland (Inatsisartut)
edit| Election year | votes | % of vote | seats won | ± |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 4,558 | 15.9 (#4) | 5 / 31
|
New |
| 2005 | 6,595 | 22.8 (#2) | 7 / 31
|
|
| 2009 | 3,620 | 12.7 (#3) | 4 / 31
|
|
| 2013 | 1,870 | 6.2 (#5) | 2 / 31
|
|
| 2014 | 3,469 | 11.8 (#3) | 4 / 31
|
|
| 2018 | 5,712 | 19.5 (#3) | 6 / 31
|
|
| 2021 | 2,454 | 9.3 (#4) | 3 / 31
|
Parliament of the Kingdom of Denmark (Folketinget)
edit| Election year | votes | % of Greenlandic vote |
Seats won | ± |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 4,909 | 21.7 (#3) | 0 / 2
|
New |
| 2007 | 4,584 | 18.5 (#3) | 0 / 2
|
|
| 2011 | 2,882 | 12.6 (#3) | 0 / 2
|
|
| 2015 | 1,753 | 8.5 (#3) | 0 / 2
|
|
| 2019 | 2,258 | 11.0 (#3) | 0 / 2
|
|
| 2022 | 3,656 | 19.0 (#3) | 0 / 2
|
References
edit- ^ a b Nordsieck, Wolfram (2018). "Greenland/Denmark". Retrieved 27 September 2018.
- ^ a b c Lansford, Tom, ed. (2014). Political Handbook of the World 2014. CQ Press. p. 393.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Loukacheva (2007). The Arctic Promise. p. 61.
- ^ Hicks, Jack (9 December 2005). ""Northern lights" coalition a return to normal for Greenland politics". Nunatsiaq News. Retrieved 25 April 2018.