Hundreds of voters in Greenland’s capital, Nook, turned out en masse to the polls shortly after the city’s only polling station opened to vote in the parliamentary elections being held today.

The local gym, which serves as the only polling station in the capital city of nearly 20,000 people, filled up within minutes of opening at 9 a.m. local time. Lines formed behind all six tables set up.

“I came as soon as possible before I went to work. Voting is important, especially now. I think the most important thing is the stability of Greenland. But the internal issues, such as fishing regulation, are the most important for me,” a resident told a foreign media correspondent.

Meanwhile, when asked to comment on the statements and… appetites that Donald Trump has expressed, they remain collected and express their confidence in their Prime Minister, Mute Egede. “I think the prime minister is doing a very good job. I came to vote for him,” said one of the voters.

Dozens of journalists from Japan, France, Russia, and the Middle East

Meanwhile, dozens of journalists from around the world, from Japan and France to Russia and the Middle East, have travelled to Greenland to cover the parliamentary election. Press representatives with cameras and microphones are constantly walking between the rows of voters, with most questions being asked in English.

Nook City Hall, which organized the election, is allowing reporters to work without restrictions at the polling station itself, simply asking them not to film anyone who refuses.

This unprecedented journalistic interest in the island’s election is due to Donald Trump’s statements about his desire to incorporate Greenland into the US. However, this general election is not about that issue, as the focus of the debate is on the issue of the island’s independence from Denmark. Nevertheless, local voters are telling reporters that they will make their choice based on local rather than international issues.

No political party in Greenland, nor the overwhelming majority of the population, supports joining the United States. On the contrary, all politicians support strict independence without guardianship from either Denmark or the United States. According to a poll conducted by the Greenlandic newspaper Sermitsiaq in January, 85 percent of residents would not want to leave Denmark to become Americans, but the same poll shows that 84 percent of the island’s residents want independence from Denmark.

Official election results are expected on the morning of March 12.