Greenland capital city government

Greenland’s capital city, Nuuk, is again led by a woman mayor. Avaaraq Olsen, a leftist politician, has formed a centre-left coalition administration. Poul Petersen acts as her deputy.

Avaaraq Olsen, the newly elected mayor of Greenland’s capital, Nuuk, promises to lead a forward-looking coalition government

Education and sustainable development are to be prioritised by Greenland’s capital city

May 2025: After Greenland’s local elections on 2 April, the leftist Inuit Ataqatigiit Party and the centre-right Demokraatit Party have formed a coalition on the Sermersooq municipal council. Both parties agreed to re-appoint Avaaraq Olsen from Inuit Ataqatigiit as mayor. Poul Petersen from Demokraatit was appointed vice mayor. The centre-left Siumut Party will form the opposition. Sermersooq is Greenland’s largest municipality and includes the country’s capital city, Nuuk.

In the local elections, none of the three parties achieved an absolute majority, a result which made a coalition a necessity. During a round of post-election negotiations, Inuit Ataqatigiit and Demokraatit agreed to form an administration with Avaaraq Olsen as mayor and Poul Petersen as her deputy.

After her appointment as mayor was confirmed by the municipal council on 30 April, Avaaraq Olsen emphasised her campaign promise that children and young people would be very much at the centre of her administration’s efforts. “We must ensure that the young are being given a start in life that will enable them to lead a happy life while contributing to Greenland’s society at large.” Education is central to the agreement. Primary and secondary schools will be strengthened, and cooperation with the business community will be expanded so that more young people have access to relevant training and job opportunities.

Deputy Mayor Poul Petersen added that the newly formed coalition will put more resources into housing and present plans for the sustainable development of towns and villages. The administration has agreed on a green focus and also promises that improved waste management and business support will be prioritised.

Responsible financial management and more efficient case management are recurring themes in the coalition agreement, which, the signatories hope, will contribute to greater transparency and better service for citizens.

BACK TO TOP

In Greenland's capital, the incumbent mayor lost the popular vote, but council members have the final say

April 2025: Provisional results for Greenland’s country-wide municipal elections, held on 2 April 2025, indicate the centre-left Siumut will remain the largest party at the local level. But the centre-right Demokraatit party, which won the general election on 11 March, is the real winner. The party, which leads a national unity government, increased its share of the local vote by 18 percentage points from seven per cent in 2021 to 25 per cent.

Percentage of votes for main parties, with previous results in brackets

Siumut, centre-left, 33.6% (35.5%)

Demokraatit, centre-right, 25.0% (6.8%)

Inuit Ataqatigiit, leftist, 21.4% (36.9%)

Naleraq, centrist-populist, the only party that favours greater cooperation with the US, 11.0% (10.5%)

In Sermersooq, the country’s largest municipal region, which includes the capital city Nuuk, Inuit Ataqatigiit and Siumut are tied on seven council seats each. The Demokraatit party won four seats. The new council will meet for the first time on 30 April when members will elect the mayor and deputy mayor. At the moment, both leading parties are still maintaining their support for their respective candidates.

In the election, Sermersooq’s incumbent mayor, Avaaraq Olsen (Inuit Ataqatigiit), received 684 'personal' votes, while her challenger, Martha Abelsen (Siumut), was ahead by 29 votes on 713 votes. The capital's third mayoral candidate, Poul Petersen (Demikraatit), won the support of 537 voters.

Although the number of personal votes does not play a role in the election of the mayor by the councillors, Martha Abelsen will point out that voters gave her the most votes.

BACK TO TOP

Greenland to elect new mayors against the background of intimidation from Trump’s America

March 2025: For the second time this year, the people of Greenland have the opportunity to show what they think of US President Trump’s ‘desire’ to take over their country. In a general election held on 11 March 2025, voters decisively chose political parties that rejected American overtures. On 1 April, the country will hold nationwide local elections in municipalities, villages and parishes.

While issues like housing, education and an ageing population dominated the local election campaigns, Greenlanders are aware that their votes will have national and international implications. This is especially true for the elections in the municipality of Sermersooq, where almost 42 per cent of the country’s population lives and which includes Greenland’s capital city, Nuuk.

Sermersooq’s current mayor, Avaaraq Olsen, who took over the mayorship in 2022 after her predecessor, Charlotte Ludvigsen, had to resign following several scandals, is asking voters for a second term. She claims that after a turbulent period, she managed to create a calmer atmosphere that allowed the parties in the municipal council to work together. “There was an incredible amount of arguing. It was like wartime when we went into the council chamber,” Mayor Olsen said.

While the mayor’s two principal opponents agree that there has been very good cross-party cooperation over the past few years, they argue that the mayor has insufficiently involved ordinary citizens in her decision-making. Candidate Martha Abelsen believes a mayor needs to be proactive, particularly if she wants to connect with young and elderly people, while Poul Petersen, the mayor’s second opponent, has criticised the mayor for her lack of a coherent housing policy.

Candidates for Mayor of Sermersooq (Nuuk)

Avaaraq Olsen, incumbent mayor. Member of Inuit Ataqatigiit, a leftist party.

Martha Abelsen is, social worker and civil servant. Member of Siumut, a centre-left party.

Poul Petersen. Member of Demokraatit, a centre-right party.

All three parties favour gradual independence from Denmark but are opposed to a US takeover. The Demokraatit party won the March 2025 general election and now leads a national unity government.

Sources: Kalaallit Nunaata Radioa; Sermersooq Municipality, Qinersineq

BACK TO TOP