Greenlandic parliamentary election, 2009
Encyclopedia
Parliamentary elections were held in Greenland
on 2 June 2009. Prime Minister Hans Enoksen
announced the election date on 15 April 2009, stating that he would prefer for a newly elected parliament to administer Greenland when the self-government reform
takes effect on 21 June 2009. The reform will give more power to the Greenlandic parliament with decisions on most issues being devolved to the parliament but defence and foreign affairs remaining under the control of Denmark.
On 7 June 2009, Community of the People announced that it would form a coalition with the Democrats and the Independents.
(Greenlandic for: Community of the People), led by Kuupik Kleist
, won the election, getting 43.7% of the votes. The governing Siumut Party
(Greenlandic for Forward) led by Prime Minister Hans Enoksen took 26.5% of the vote and lost control of the government for the first time in 30 years.
Siumut is likely to be left out of government as both the Inuit Ataqatigiit and Demokraatit parties have ruled out the possibility of working with Siumut. Siumut's former coalition partner, Atassut, gained too few seats to make a new coalition powerful enough to challenge for the government.
A particular set-back for Siumut was the failure to re-elect Jonathan Motzfeldt
, a familiar figure in Greenlandic politics having been the state's first and third prime minister who received just 91 votes and failed to be re-elected for the first time since 1971. Enoksen has stated that he would step down as party leader, a position he has held since 2002, if his colleagues wish him to. Siumut is believed to have lost votes over a recent series of scandals, including one over expenses, and concerns over its ability to manage with greater autonomy.
Kleist set a new record for most votes in a Greenlandic election with 5,461 received. This compares with Akitsinnguaq Olsen who was elected with just 112 votes. Greenland has a population of 57,600 people.
Greenland
Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Though physiographically a part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been politically and culturally associated with Europe for...
on 2 June 2009. Prime Minister Hans Enoksen
Hans Enoksen
Hans Enoksen is a Greenlandic politician who served as the fourth Prime Minister of Greenland from 2002 to 2009.A Greenlandic monoglot, he has been a member of the Parliament of Greenland since 1995...
announced the election date on 15 April 2009, stating that he would prefer for a newly elected parliament to administer Greenland when the self-government reform
Greenlandic self-government referendum, 2008
A non-binding referendum on Greenland's autonomy was held on 25 November 2008. It was passed with 75% approval and a 72% turnout. The referendum was announced by Prime Minister Hans Enoksen on 2 January 2008. Enoksen also announced the launch of an information and discussion campaign on the issue...
takes effect on 21 June 2009. The reform will give more power to the Greenlandic parliament with decisions on most issues being devolved to the parliament but defence and foreign affairs remaining under the control of Denmark.
On 7 June 2009, Community of the People announced that it would form a coalition with the Democrats and the Independents.
Election summary
The pro-independence, left-wing opposition party, Inuit AtaqatigiitInuit Ataqatigiit
Inuit Ataqatigiit is a leftist and separatist political party in Greenland. The party was born out of the increased youth radicalism in Denmark during the 1970s. The party strives to make Greenland an independent state.In the 2005 elections, the party won 22.6% of the popular vote and seven out of...
(Greenlandic for: Community of the People), led by Kuupik Kleist
Kuupik Kleist
Jakob Edvard Kuupik Kleist is a Socialist and Left-wing Greenlandic politician. He became the fifth Prime Minister of Greenland in 2009, the first from the Inuit Ataqatigiit political party....
, won the election, getting 43.7% of the votes. The governing Siumut Party
Forward (Greenland)
Forward is a social-democratic political party in Greenland and a consultative member of the Socialist International. It is led by Aleqa Hammond, member of the Greenlandic Parliament, who is the first woman ever to lead the party...
(Greenlandic for Forward) led by Prime Minister Hans Enoksen took 26.5% of the vote and lost control of the government for the first time in 30 years.
Siumut is likely to be left out of government as both the Inuit Ataqatigiit and Demokraatit parties have ruled out the possibility of working with Siumut. Siumut's former coalition partner, Atassut, gained too few seats to make a new coalition powerful enough to challenge for the government.
A particular set-back for Siumut was the failure to re-elect Jonathan Motzfeldt
Jonathan Motzfeldt
Jonathan Motzfeldt was the first and third Prime Minister of Greenland.From 1979 to 1988, in 1997 and from 2003 to 2008, he was Chairman of the Greenland Landsting. He was prime minister twice, from 1 May 1979 to 18 March 1991 and from 19 September 1997 to 14 December 2002...
, a familiar figure in Greenlandic politics having been the state's first and third prime minister who received just 91 votes and failed to be re-elected for the first time since 1971. Enoksen has stated that he would step down as party leader, a position he has held since 2002, if his colleagues wish him to. Siumut is believed to have lost votes over a recent series of scandals, including one over expenses, and concerns over its ability to manage with greater autonomy.
Kleist set a new record for most votes in a Greenlandic election with 5,461 received. This compares with Akitsinnguaq Olsen who was elected with just 112 votes. Greenland has a population of 57,600 people.