Greenland parliamentary elections were yesterday, the results as such:
Party Seats +/–
Democrats (Liberal Unionist) 10 +7
Naleraq (Populist Nationalist) 8 +4
Inuit Ataqatigiit (Far Left Nationalist) 7 -5
Siumut (Social-Dem Nationalist) 4 -6
Atassut (Conservative Unionist) 2 0
This means that the ruling coalition of Inuit Ataqatigiit + Naleraq is one seat short of a majority. The nationalists in principle still have 19 of 31 seats, but Siumut and Inuit Ataqatigiit have had a longstanding and fairly bitter rivalry, and Siumut has previously preferred the Democrats as a coalition partner. This combination won't work this time however, as they would need to rely on Atassut for a majority.
A notable feature of the results is that the two socialist / social democratic parties both suffered large losses. Since the parliament's creation in 1979, one or the other has been the largest party in parliament, with the other usually being the second largest. Now they have fallen to third and fourth place. This speaks, in my view, to the failure of Greenland's social model with increasing problems around homelessness (yes, in that climate) and cost of living, which were very much on voters' minds.
Obviously Trump's sabre rattling also influenced voters. The unionists had a very good night, no doubt in part because of desire for stability and the continued protection of Denmark. So, however, did the rather Trumpian Naleraq party, which has expressed openness towards dancing with the tiger, even though they reject annexation by the United States.
My guess is that you'll see a "stability" coalition of Democrats + Atassut + Siumut, and any independence referendum will be postponed until the more radical nationalists regain power in some future election.
Yes, the opposition beat the governing coalition by one seat.
I don't know, the narcissism of small differences? Inuit Ataqatigiit is the historically Communist party. Social Dems and Communists have a very long history of bad blood in quite a few countries.
They certainly didn't after the last election when Inuit Ataqatigiit went with the wankers in Naleraq over the much more natural coalition partner of Siumut. Maybe sharing bad fortune this time around might cause them to see things differently, but I doubt it.
Hitler would never have become Chancellor if Stalin had not asked communist KPD to not co-operate with then DemSoc SPD. KPD called SPD "social fascists". Also Bolsheviks themselves fought DemSoc and SocDem Mensheviks.
Trump might never have become Chancellor, uh I mean President, if Jill Stein hadn’t bled off votes in key states in 2016. Meanwhile, the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) seem far more intent on tearing down Democrats, including AOC, than effectively opposing Trumpist Republicans.
Anything's possible, but it would be strange bedfellows (i.e. nationalist + unionist, classically liberal + leftist). It has some logic in that it's only two parties and neither of those parties are Naleraq.
Greenland parliamentary elections were yesterday, the results as such:
Party Seats +/–
Democrats (Liberal Unionist) 10 +7
Naleraq (Populist Nationalist) 8 +4
Inuit Ataqatigiit (Far Left Nationalist) 7 -5
Siumut (Social-Dem Nationalist) 4 -6
Atassut (Conservative Unionist) 2 0
This means that the ruling coalition of Inuit Ataqatigiit + Naleraq is one seat short of a majority. The nationalists in principle still have 19 of 31 seats, but Siumut and Inuit Ataqatigiit have had a longstanding and fairly bitter rivalry, and Siumut has previously preferred the Democrats as a coalition partner. This combination won't work this time however, as they would need to rely on Atassut for a majority.
A notable feature of the results is that the two socialist / social democratic parties both suffered large losses. Since the parliament's creation in 1979, one or the other has been the largest party in parliament, with the other usually being the second largest. Now they have fallen to third and fourth place. This speaks, in my view, to the failure of Greenland's social model with increasing problems around homelessness (yes, in that climate) and cost of living, which were very much on voters' minds.
Obviously Trump's sabre rattling also influenced voters. The unionists had a very good night, no doubt in part because of desire for stability and the continued protection of Denmark. So, however, did the rather Trumpian Naleraq party, which has expressed openness towards dancing with the tiger, even though they reject annexation by the United States.
My guess is that you'll see a "stability" coalition of Democrats + Atassut + Siumut, and any independence referendum will be postponed until the more radical nationalists regain power in some future election.
Excellent! Your summary is far better than those I have found on other news sites. A few questions, if I may:
– The three parties you mention will hold a bare majority: 16 of 31, right?
– Why the bitter rivalry between the Siumut and Inuit Ataqatigiit?
– What would it take to bury this rivalry and open political cooperation?
Yes, the opposition beat the governing coalition by one seat.
I don't know, the narcissism of small differences? Inuit Ataqatigiit is the historically Communist party. Social Dems and Communists have a very long history of bad blood in quite a few countries.
They certainly didn't after the last election when Inuit Ataqatigiit went with the wankers in Naleraq over the much more natural coalition partner of Siumut. Maybe sharing bad fortune this time around might cause them to see things differently, but I doubt it.
Hitler would never have become Chancellor if Stalin had not asked communist KPD to not co-operate with then DemSoc SPD. KPD called SPD "social fascists". Also Bolsheviks themselves fought DemSoc and SocDem Mensheviks.
Sort of like here.
Trump might never have become Chancellor, uh I mean President, if Jill Stein hadn’t bled off votes in key states in 2016. Meanwhile, the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) seem far more intent on tearing down Democrats, including AOC, than effectively opposing Trumpist Republicans.
I don't disagree with any of this, but it feels kind of out of place an intentionally inflammatory to raise it here...
One more thing: As I understand it, Greenland’s most America-leaning party, Qulleq, didn’t gain enough votes to win even a single seat in parliament.
They were newly created this election and received 300 votes.
Elsewhere I saw it predicted that the Democrats and Ataqstigiit would coalesce. You think not?
Anything's possible, but it would be strange bedfellows (i.e. nationalist + unionist, classically liberal + leftist). It has some logic in that it's only two parties and neither of those parties are Naleraq.