Democrats (Greenland)

The Democrats (Greenlandic: Demokraatit; Danish: Demokraterne) is a liberal, unionist political party in Greenland.

Democrats

Demokraatit
Danish nameDemokraterne
LeaderNiels Thomsen
Political ViceJustus Hansen
Organizational ViceNivi Olsen
Founded28 November 2002 (2002-11-28)
HeadquartersInatsisartut, 3900 Nuuk
Youth wingDemokraatit Inuusuttaat
IdeologyGreenlandic unionism[1]
Social liberalism[1]
Political positionCentre[2] to centre-right[3]
National affiliationConservative People's Party (2007–2010)
Danish Social Liberal Party (since 2012)
Nordic affiliationCentre Group
ColorsBlack, red and white
Inatsisartut
6 / 31
Municipalities
4 / 73
Folketing
(Greenland seats)
0 / 2
Website
www.demokraatit.gl

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.[4] Two of the major priorities in its programme are improving educational standards and the housing situation.[2]

History

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.[5] Its number of seats decreased to four seats 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 and has now six seats in Greenland's parliament.

Election results

Parliament of Greenland (Inatsisartut)
Election year votes % of vote seats won ±
2002 4,558 15.9 (#4)
5 / 31
 New
2005 6,595 22.8 (#2)
7 / 31
 2
2009 3,620 12.7 (#3)
4 / 31
 3
2013 1,870 6.2 (#5)
2 / 31
 2
2014 3,469 11.8 (#3)
4 / 31
 2
2018 5,712 19.5 (#3)
6 / 31
 2

Parliament of the Kingdom of Denmark (Folketinget)
Election year votes % of
Greenlandic vote		 Greenlandic seats won ±
2005 4,909 21.7 (#3)
0 / 2
 New
2007 4,584 18.5 (#3)
0 / 2
 0
2011 2,882 12.6 (#3)
0 / 2
 0
2015 1,753 8.5 (#3)
0 / 2
 0
2019 2,258 11.0 (#3)
0 / 2
 0

References
  1. Nordsieck, Wolfram (2018). "Greenland/Denmark". Retrieved 27 September 2018.
  2. Lansford, Tom, ed. (2014). Political Handbook of the World 2014. CQ Press. p. 393.
  3. Loukacheva, Natalia (2007). The Arctic Promise: Legal and Political Autonomy of Greenland and Nunavut. University of Toronto Press. p. 55.
  4. Loukacheva (2007). The Arctic Promise. p. 61.
  5. Hicks, Jack (9 December 2005). ""Northern lights" coalition a return to normal for Greenland politics". Nunatsiaq News. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
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