Who’s who in Greenland politics

JACK HICKS

Siumut (“Forward”)

Greenland’s first political party came together in the 1970s, formed by the same young people who led the drive for Home Rule. The establishment of Siumut, or “Forward,” was part of the process of visioning what a self-governing Greenland would look like. It has a moderate social democratic economic policy.

Siumut has been the most popular party since the first election in 1979, and has governed the country for all 26 years of Home Rule – either by itself or in coalition with Atassut or IA. But Siumut’s share of the vote decreased over time, to the point that in the elections held in 2002 it won just 10 of the 31 seats in the Landsting (the Home Rule parliament).

Atassut (“Connection”)

Also in the 1970s, people who wanted to ensure that close ties were maintained with Denmark – and were of a more conservative economic bent – formed a competing party called Atassut or “Connection.”

Like Siumut, Atassut’s share of the vote also decreased gradually over the years.

Inuit Atagatigiit (“Inuit Brotherhood”)

Another group of young people, many of whom had been radicalized by studying in Denmark during the Vietnam war, formed a left-wing nationalist party called Inuit Ataqatigiit, or “Inuit Brotherhood” (often referred to by its initials IA.)

IA’s share of the vote gradually increased through the 1980s and 1990s, especially among young people.

Democrats

Greenland’s political landscape was changed in 2002 when Per Berthelsen, a founding member of Greenland’s greatest rock music group, Sume, and one-time deputy mayor of Nuuk, broke with Siumut over what he perceived to be cronyism and abuse of power.

Berthelsen formed a new centre-right party he called the Democrats. It won five seats in the election held in 2002, with most of its vote coming from the leader’s base in the capital city.