2009_Greenlandic_parliamentary_election

2009 Greenlandic general election

2009 Greenlandic general election

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General 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 took effect on 21 June 2009.[1] The reform gave 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.[2]

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Results

The pro-independence, left-wing opposition party, Inuit Ataqatigiit led by Kuupik Kleist emerged as the largest party with 43.7% of the vote.[2][3] 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.[4]

The governing Siumut led by Prime Minister Hans Enoksen received 26.5% of the vote and lost control of the government for the first time in 30 years.[2] Former Siumut leader and Prime Minister Jonathan Motzfeldt failed to be re-elected for the first time since 1971, receiving just 91 votes .[4] Enoksen stated that he would step down as party leader, a position he had held since 2002, if his colleagues wished him to.[4] Siumut was believed to have lost votes over a series of scandals, including one over expenses, and concerns over its ability to manage with greater autonomy.[3]

The newly formed Sorlaat Partiiat gained just 383 votes in the election and dissolved shortly afterwards. The party stood on a platform of huge spending reductions and opposed Greenland rejoining the EU.

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Aftermath

Siumut was considered likely to be left out of government as both the Inuit Ataqatigiit and Demokraatit parties ruled out the possibility of working with them.[4] Siumut's former coalition partner, Atassut, gained too few seats to make a new coalition powerful enough to challenge for the government.[4]

On 7 June 2009 Inuit Ataqatigiit announced that it would form a coalition with the Democrats and the Association of Candidates.[5]

References

  1. [1]
    Simonsen, Mariia (15 April 2009) Landstingsvalg 2. juni 2009 Archived 16 April 2009 at the Wayback Machine (in Danish). Sermitsiaq.
  2. [2]
    "Opposition win Greenland election". BBC. 3 June 2009. Retrieved 3 June 2009.
  3. [3]
    "Pro-independence party wins Greenland poll". Agence France Presse. 3 June 2009. Retrieved 3 June 2009.
  4. [4]
    "Greenland wakes up to first power shift in 30 years". The Copenhagen Post. 3 June 2009. Archived from the original on 8 June 2009. Retrieved 3 June 2009.
  5. [5]
    "Greenland parties agree on government coalition". Nasdaq. Archived from the original on 18 March 2013. Retrieved 8 June 2009.
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