After the election defeat for the IA, the party’s founder is furious about how self-government has come to a standstill. Now he warns that secession from the Commonwealth could harm the country.

Aqqaluk Lynge sits at the dining table in his living room. In front of it you can see the picturesque Nuup Kangerlua under a blue sky.

Following the election for Inatsisartut and in light of the heated debate about the colonial era and independence, the founder of Inuit Ataqatigiit, Aqqaluk Lynge, now speaks out about why the party went wrong during the election and how Greenland should develop.

– We have gone from a dream of great independence to it having become a nightmare. It is exactly as we predicted, he exclaims with a determined look in his eye.

In connection with the KNR and TV2 debate on January 19, the former Danish conservative Minister of Defense Hans Engell commented: “I never thought that my old friend Aqqaluk Lynge would advocate independence within the realm”.

The US’s desire for Greenlandic control

On December 23, 2024, Donald Trump stated that he believes the United States should have ownership of Greenland. Since then, the message has been repeated repeatedly by both himself and his staff.

On January 7, Donald Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., landed in Nuuk, which brought the world’s attention to Greenland.

The same day, the incoming president said he would not rule out using economic or military force to gain control of Greenland – despite the fact that the US and Denmark are both members of NATO and despite the fact that the US has had a military presence in Greenland since World War II.

On March 13, President Trump was asked if he would annex Greenland. He replied: – I think it will happen.

On March 15, Nuumiut took to the streets in a demonstration against the United States’ desire to take over Greenland. Possibly the largest demonstration in the country’s history.

After much debate and warnings of demonstrations, the wife of US Vice President J.D. Vance canceled a planned visit to Sisimiut. Instead, the couple landed at Pituffik Space Base on March 28, where a press conference was held.

On April 10, The New York Times revealed that the American strategy was now to persuade the Greenlanders to become part of the United States – including through soft power and private investment.

On May 6, the Wall Street Journal revealed that US President Donald Trump has ordered the heads of intelligence agencies such as the CIA, NSA and DIA to increase intelligence gathering in Greenland. Among other things, the order called for a list of Greenlanders who could help the US achieve its goals. This led several experts and countries to suspect US espionage in Greenland.

 

When Aqqaluk Lynge hears the statement, he throws his head back and laughs loudly before regaining seriousness in his voice:

– That’s because he has never listened properly, says Aqqaluk Lynge.

– Even then, the department told us that the day we broke away, we would be taken by the great power. 40 years ago, when we talked to Danish foreign ministers, we joked about it. I once asked them directly: What will you do if a great power takes us? Now we are in that situation.

– Our party program was about being recognized as a people – not a damn thing about independence. We were that smart – even when we were young. We fought for recognition as a people within the Danish kingdom – even up until 2009.

Aqqaluk Lynge himself does not believe that he has changed his position on independence, but in an interview with KNR he says that the debate about independence and the scandals of the colonial era cost IA votes.

A standalone nightmare

Both leading up to the election and during the election campaign, the relationship between Denmark and Greenland filled the debate. In the DR program ‘Deadline’, Múte B. Egede (IA) accused Denmark of genocide in connection with the spiral case. In addition, the DR documentary ‘Det Hvide Guld’ ended up focusing on the colonial period again.

If it were up to Aqqaluk Lynge, the cases should be put on hold to show solidarity with Denmark. Because Greenland now finds itself in a completely new world situation that politicians must take stock of, he believes.

– I have never spoken about Greenland’s colonial situation and one abuse after another. I have spoken about the development of society. We need to talk about what the future should look like, says the party founder.

Every time politicians talk about secession, Aqqaluk Lynge believes that it gives more ammunition to US President Donald Trump’s desire to take over Greenland.

– We ourselves are to blame for the messages that Trump is abusing in the worst way. That’s why I say: Those who support an independent state support the military takeover of Greenland. That’s the reality.

A new sense of reality

How do you see politicians moving forward from here?

How do you see politicians moving forward from here?

– We are talking about survival. It is important that we set a limit here and say that everything we have worked on for the last 50 years does not fit with the world we have today. The only protection against being attacked by the Americans is the Commonwealth, the EU and the Nordic community.

What change have you noticed among the politicians in IA?

What change have you noticed among the politicians in IA?

– The emergence of the real world has sparked new thinking about reality. I have been pointing out since 2017 that there will be no states in the Arctic that will support an independent Inuit state.

Reactions from Múte B. Egede

KNR has presented some of Aqqaluk Lynge’s statements about a new sense of reality to the chairman of Inuit Ataqatigiit, Múte Borup Egede. In a written response, he replies:

“As chairman of Inuit Ataqatigiit, I must follow the party’s statutes as adopted during the general assembly, the party’s policy, and together with the central board, implement the objectives. Because the party’s highest body, the national meeting, determines the party’s statutes, objectives and political direction. In short: In our work, we are obliged to lead the party based on the party’s objectives.

The world institution right now and in a time of external pressure, and it is our duty to do things with consideration, show unity and cooperation. At the same time, we must cooperate closely with the countries around us, countries that share our values.”

Do you also think this is a reality that the other parties have realized?

Do you also think this is a reality that the other parties have realized?

– The reason why Demokraatit got the most votes is the attitude towards development within the realm. It will develop in that direction all the time. I am sure of that. It will also change the way of discussing up here.

Lack of long-term solutions

When Aqqaluk Lynge looks back on the most recent government period, it is clear to him that the major reforms – such as pensions and fisheries – were not implemented properly.

– The election four years ago was quite extraordinary due to the opposition to uranium. But it turned out that the great desire for political change, Aqqaluk Lynge stops in mid-sentence before he starts talking about the civil service:

– You don’t have the people to implement your policy because you don’t have the apparatus to do so. We have a weak and underdeveloped administration, he states.

Aqqaluk Lynge also misses politicians sitting down and creating long-term solutions.

– I’ve had so many meetings with the IA group over the past many years. When proposals come in, I always say: “What will it mean, where will you get the money from, and how will you implement it?” That’s always missing.

Therefore, the former politician is demanding that the finance laws in particular be made with longer perspectives instead of only running for one year at a time.

– The implemented financial laws stop where they should continue. In this way, the problems will constantly bite themselves, he states.

Independence with money from Denmark

In Aqqaluk Lynge’s opinion, independence and development cannot happen under the current self-government law. He therefore calls for negotiations to begin on a new self-government law with Danish funding.

– The self-government that was created in 2009 never became anything beyond taking over the raw materials area. That’s what’s wrong with the entire self-government system. We didn’t take over the 30 areas.

At the same time, he demands that Inatsisartut issue a statement, or that Greenland hold a referendum at the end of next year, which sends a clear signal to the outside world about the development the country wants.

Aqqaluk Lynge slams his hand on the dining table, making everything shake after each of his words:

– Greenlanders. Desire. Development. Within. the. Commonwealth.

– If we don’t make such a statement, things will go wrong. Then we will have to say goodbye to the coalition government. Anything can happen.