Greenland's Municipal Election 2025

At local level, the centre-left Siumut party remains the strongest party, but the centre-right Demokraatit party increased its country-wide share of the vote from 7 to 25 per cent. Mayors will be elected by the local councils on 30 April. The mayor of the municipal capital region Sermersooq (Nuuk) will again be a woman.

Greenland mayors. Candidates (from left) for the mayorship of Sermersooq, the country’s largest municipality: Avaaraq Olsen, a leftist politician and incumbent mayor; Martha Abelsen, a centre-left politician; Poul Petersen, a centre-right politician and a member of Greenland’s ruling party. The mayor will be elected on 30 April by council members. All three candidates favour gradual independence from Denmark but strongly reject American threats. (Photo: Kalaallit Nunaata Radioa)

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

5 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 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.

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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. Candidat 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, 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

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