Greenland may maintain referendum on independence from Denmark – Europe stay

Greenlanders may quickly vote in a referendum on independence from Denmark underneath plans proposed by the ruling social gathering, Siumut.

You by no means anticipated to be this invested within the home politics of Greenland, proper? Me neither. However that’s the Trump impact. We higher get used to it.

Earlier this week, the Greenlandic parliament known as a snap election for 11 March, partially in response to rising rhetoric about US aspirations to regulate the realm by US president Donald Trump (very a lot in opposition to their will).

Final night time, the chief of the ruling social gathering there stated that in the event that they get re-elected, they may speed up the independence course of by triggering Part 21 of the Greenland Self-Authorities Act to barter the phrases of a future relationship and, crucially, maintain an independence referendum inside the subsequent parliament.

Social gathering chief Erik Jensen admitted in media interviews that Trump’s intervention not directly contributed to this choice, and Siumut’s political spokesperson Doris Jakobsen Jensen went additional and criticised the Danish prime minister, Mette Frederiksen for her “solo run” in Europe in response to Trump’s phrases, allegedly ignoring Greenland’s will.

Nevertheless, there can be loads of sensible questions about how any future association would look, which can in all probability complicate the method. For instance, underneath the present association, Denmark pays the territory a 4.3 billion kroner (£484m or €580m) grant.

A latest ballot for Berlingske and Greenlandic newspaper Sermitsiaq confirmed that almost all Greenlanders anticipate this to proceed even after independence. However would Denmark agree? Her workplace declined to remark “out of respect for the electoral course of.” If that cash isn’t there, will Greenlanders nonetheless need independence now? Are they prepared, or want extra time?

(In case you are getting Brexit flashbacks studying this introduction, I can’t even blame you. At the very least they don’t put it on the facet of a bus, but.)

Nevertheless, the Trump impact additionally exists in Denmark.

Danish every day Berlingske is reporting this morning about speculations that Frederiksen – whose Social Democrats gained over 3 factors in polls since Trump got here into workplace on the again of her diplomatic offensive – is also tempted to name a snap election, bringing them ahead from late 2026 to financial institution one other time period amid the swirling uncertainty about life underneath Trump.

I feel we will confidently say that this theme of how Trump’s politics influences – or, relying in your politics, interferes with – home selections will proceed all through 2025: from elections in Germany, the place his shut aide Elon Musk straight helps the far-right Various für Deutschland, via presidential elections within the likes of Romania and Poland, and past.

“Could you reside in fascinating occasions,” eh?

It’s Friday, 7 February 2025, and that is Europe stay. It’s Jakub Krupa right here.

Good morning.