Greenland's Path to Independence: Key Steps and Challenges Explained

Photo: AFP

Greenland is moving towards independence, and this has been a major topic in the upcoming legislative elections. The Danish constitution allows for Greenland to become independent, and there are already laws in place to guide this process.

All the major political parties in Greenland support independence. The debate is not about whether it should happen, but when it should happen.

Steps to Independence

Denmark’s constitution, under Article 19, allows the Danish government to let go of Greenland if the Danish parliament agrees. According to Professor Frederik Waage from the University of Southern Denmark, there is no need to change the Danish constitution for this to happen.

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Greenland’s 2009 self-rule law provides a clear path to independence. Article 21 of this law states that the people of Greenland must vote to decide if they want independence. If they choose to separate from Denmark, discussions will take place between Greenland and Denmark to agree on the terms. This agreement must then be approved by Greenland’s parliament, followed by a public vote (referendum). After that, the Danish parliament must also give its final approval.

Who Gets to Vote?

The self-rule law does not clearly define who qualifies as the "people of Greenland" for voting in an independence referendum. Some politicians believe that only Inuit Greenlanders should decide, excluding Danes who moved to Greenland. Pele Broberg, a leader of the Naleraq party, said that the people who originally colonized Greenland should not have the right to vote on its independence.

However, Professor Jorgen Albaek Jensen from Aarhus University pointed out that this could be very difficult. Many Greenlanders have mixed Danish and Inuit ancestry. He questioned whether being "half Greenlandic" or "one-quarter Greenlandic" would be enough to qualify someone for voting. He even compared this debate to the racial laws of Nazi Germany, which he strongly opposed.

Voting Rules for Greenland’s Parliament

For regular elections in Greenland, the rules are clear. Danish citizens who have lived in Greenland for more than six months can vote. But about 17,000 Greenlanders who live in Denmark cannot vote in Greenland’s elections, unless they are registered as students.

What Happens Next?

Greenland’s government has created a special commission to study the legal process of becoming independent. This commission will examine all the necessary steps and provide recommendations. Their findings are expected to be released in late 2026.

For now, none of Greenland’s political parties are rushing to start the independence process. Experts believe it will take several years because many practical issues need to be sorted out first. This includes setting up relations with other countries, such as the United States.

Professor Waage mentioned that in Denmark, people believe full independence will not happen while Donald Trump is the U.S. president.

Public Opinion on Independence

A poll conducted in late January by the Verian institute showed that 56% of Greenlanders support independence. However, when asked if they would still support it if their living standards declined, only 45% were in favor.

This shows that while many people in Greenland want independence, they also worry about how it will affect their daily lives. 

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