Democrats (Greenland)

Democrats
Demokraatit
Danish name Demokraterne
Leader Niels Thomsen
Political Vice Justus Hansen
Organizational Vice Nivi Olsen
Founded 28 November 2002 (2002-11-28)
Headquarters Inatsisartut, 3900 Nuuk
Youth wing Demokraatit Inuusuttaat
Ideology Greenlandic unionism[1]
Social liberalism[1]
Political position Centre[2] to centre-right[3]
Colors Black, red and white
Inatsisartut
6 / 31
Municipalities
4 / 73
Folketing
(Greenland seats)
0 / 2
Website
www.demokraatit.gl

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

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 at the 2014 elections the party gained two more seats and has now four seats in the 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
 Increase 2
2009 3,620 12.7 (#3)
4 / 31
 Decrease 3
2013 1,870 6.2 (#5)
2 / 31
 Decrease 2
2014 3,469 11.8 (#3)
4 / 31
 Increase 2
2018 5,712 19.5 (#3)
6 / 31
 Increase 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
 Steady 0
2011 2,882 12.6 (#3)
0 / 2
 Steady 0
2015 1,753 8.5 (#3)
0 / 2
 Steady 0

References

  1. 1 2 Nordsieck, Wolfram (2018). "Greenland/Denmark". Retrieved 27 September 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 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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