Greenlandic general election, 2009

Greenland
This article is part of a series on the
politics and government of
Greenland

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 takes 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]

On 7 June 2009, Community of the People announced that it would form a coalition with the Democrats and the Independents.[3]

Results

Party Votes % Seats +/–
Inuit Ataqatigiit12,45744.0614Increase7
Siumut7,56726.769Decrease1
Democrats3,62012.804Decrease3
Solidarity3,09410.943Decrease3
Association of Candidates1,0843.831Steady0
Sorlaat3831.350New
Independents700.250Steady0
Invalid/blank votes235–––
Total28,510100310
Registered voters/turnout39,99071.29––
Source: Election Passport, Parties & Elections

Election summary

The pro-independence, left-wing opposition party, Inuit Ataqatigiit (Greenlandic for: Community of the People), led by Kuupik Kleist, won the election, getting 43.7% of the votes.[2][4] 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.[2]

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.[5] Siumut's former coalition partner, Atassut, gained too few seats to make a new coalition powerful enough to challenge for the government.[5]

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.[5] Enoksen has stated that he would step down as party leader, a position he has held since 2002, if his colleagues wish him to.[5] 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.[4]

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.[5] Greenland has a population of 57,600 people.[6]

References

  1. ↑ Simonsen, Mariia (15 April 2009) Landstingsvalg 2. juni 2009 (Danish). Sermitsiaq.
  2. 1 2 3 "Opposition win Greenland election". BBC. 3 June 2009. Retrieved 3 June 2009.
  3. ↑ http://www.nasdaq.com/aspx/stock-market-news-story.aspx?storyid=200906072019dowjonesdjonline000390&title=greenland-parties-agree-on-government-coalition
  4. 1 2 "Pro-independence party wins Greenland poll". Agence France Presse. 3 June 2009. Retrieved 3 June 2009.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "Greenland wakes up to first power shift in 30 years". Copenhagen Post. 3 June 2009. Retrieved 3 June 2009.
  6. ↑ "CIA world factbok". CIA. July 2009.
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