The Naalakkersuisut (English: Cabinet of Greenland, Danish: Grønlands Regering) is the chief executive body and the government of Greenland since the island became self-governing in 1979. An autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark, Greenland is a parliamentary representative democratic territory, in which the premier (Naalakkersuisut Siulittaasuat) leads the cabinet, and of a multi-party system.

There are currently 10 members of the Cabinet,[1] known as "Ministers" (Naalakkersuisut), all of whom are also heads of specific government ministries. The ministers are appointed by the Prime Minister. The Greenlandic government currently consists of 10 ministers including the Prime Minister.[2]

Executive power

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Executive power rests with a high commissioner, and a prime minister heads the Cabinet. The high commissioner of Greenland since 2011 is appointed by the monarch (King Frederik X), and the prime minister is elected indirectly by parliament elections results for four-year terms.

Current cabinet

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The Naalakkersuisut is divided into a number of areas of responsibility each led by a Naalakkersuisoq (English: Minister) with powers corresponding to that of a minister or secretary of government. The cabinet is based on a coalition in the Inatsisartut of the parties Inuit Ataqatigiit and Naleraq with the support of Atassut. Since 23 April 2021, the current composition of the Naalakkersuisut is as follows:[3]

Portfolio Minister Took office Left office Party Ref
The Premier's Office
Premier of Greenland23 April 2021Incumbent Inuit Ataqatigiit
Minister for Finance and Domestic Affairs23 April 2021Incumbent Inuit Ataqatigiit
Minister for Housing, Infrastructure, Minerals and Gender Equality23 April 20217 August 2021 Inuit Ataqatigiit
Minister for Housing, Infrastructure, Minerals, Justice and Gender Equality7 August 2021Incumbent Inuit Ataqatigiit[4]
Minister for Education, Culture, Sports and Church
Peter P. Olsen
23 April 2021Incumbent Inuit Ataqatigiit
Minister for Fisheries and Hunting25 September 2023Incumbent Siumut
Minister for Agriculture, Self-Sufficiency, Energy and Environment23 April 2021Incumbent Inuit Ataqatigiit
Minister for Health23 April 2021Incumbent Naleraq
Minister for Social Affairs and Labour23 April 2021Incumbent Inuit Ataqatigiit
Minister for Children, Youth, Families and Justice
Eqaluk Høegh
23 April 20217 August 2021 Inuit Ataqatigiit[4]
Minister for Children, Youth and Families
Eqaluk Høegh
7 August 202127 August 2021 Inuit Ataqatigiit[5]
27 August 202127 September 2021 Inuit Ataqatigiit[6]
27 September 2021Incumbent Naleraq[6]
Minister for Industry, Trade, Foreign Affairs and Climate23 April 202127 September 2021 Naleraq[6]
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Climate27 September 2021Incumbent Inuit Ataqatigiit[6]
Minister for Industry and Trade27 September 2021Incumbent Naleraq[6]

Legislative power

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Legislative power is shared by the government and the legislature. The legislature or Self-rule of Greenland (Greenlandic: Namminersorlutik Oqartussat, Danish: Selvstyre) is made up of 31 members in the Inatsisartut elected by direct, popular vote to serve four-year terms.

The current composition is shown below:

 
PartyVotes%+/–Seats+/–
Inuit Ataqatigiit9,91237.42+11.6412+4
Siumut7,97130.10+2.6610+1
Naleraq3,24912.27–1.2840
Democrats2,4529.26–10.433–3
Atassut1,8797.09+1.1320
Nunatta Qitornai6392.41–1.040–1
Cooperation Party3751.42–2.690–1
Independent90.03New0New
Total26,486100.00310
Valid votes26,48697.81
Invalid/blank votes5932.19
Total votes27,079100.00
Registered voters/turnout41,12665.84–6.02
Source: Qinersineq.gl

Judicial power

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The judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature. Greenland has full autonomy on most matters, except on policies and decisions affecting the region including negotiations with the devolved legislatures and the Kingdom Parliament Folketing. Greenland's judicial system has mainly been derived from the Danish civil law system. It has one court of first instance: the Court of Greenland, and an appeal court the High Court of Greenland. No appeal is possible to decisions of the Joint Court of Justice, but fundamental "questions of law" may be submitted to the Østre Landsret and the Supreme Court of Denmark in cassation. Verdicts by those institutions may lead to a new decision of the Joint Court, taking into account the results of the cassation.

History

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Naalakkersuisut 2013

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Parliamentary elections were held on March 12, 2013, and Aleqa Hammond, leader of the Siumut party, was designated as prime minister by a coalition of the parties Siumut, Partii Inuit, and Atassut.

Naalakkersuisut 2014

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Parliamentary elections were held on 28 November 2014 and Kim Kielsen, leader of the Siumut party, was designated as prime minister by a coalition of the parties Siumut, Democrats, and Atassut. The coalition was formed on 4 December 2014, Siumut has five ministers, Democrats 2 and Attasut 2.[7][8]

Naalakkersuisut 2016

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In late October 2016, the current government coalition was changed to consist of the parties Siumut (S), Inuit Ataqatigiit (IA), and Partii Naleraq (PN).[9][10] The composition of the Naalakkersuisut was as follows:

Name Party Office
Kim Kielsen Siumut Premier,
Minister for Domestic Affairs
Vittus Qujaukitsoq Siumut Minister for Industry, Labour, Trade, Energy, and Foreign Affairs
Martha Lund Olsen Siumut Minister for Municipalities Settlements, Infrastructure and Housing
Doris Jakobsen Siumut Minister for Education, Culture, Research and Church Affairs
Suka K. Frederiksen Siumut Minister for Independence, Environment and Nature and Agriculture
Aqqaluaq B. Egede Inuit Ataqatigiit Minister for Finance and Taxes
Sara Olsvig Inuit Ataqatigiit Minister for Family, Gender Equality, Social Affairs, and Justice
Agathe Fontain Inuit Ataqatigiit Minister for Health and Nordic Cooperation
Múte Bourup Egede Inuit Ataqatigiit Minister for Minerals
Hans Enoksen Partii Naleraq Minister for Hunting and Fishing

References

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  1. ^ naalakkersuisut.gl, The Ministries
  2. ^ "naalakkersuisut.gl, Members of the Cabinet". Retrieved 2021-04-11.
  3. ^ Kristensen, Kassaaluk (16 April 2021). "Her er Mútes Naalakkersuisut". Sermitsiaq (in Danish).
  4. ^ a b Cirkulære om fordeling af anliggender (Ressortfordelingen) (PDF) (in Danish), Naalakkersuisut, 6 August 2021
  5. ^ Eqaluk Høegh udtræder som Naalakkersuisoq (in Danish), Naalakkersuisut, 27 August 2021, retrieved 27 September 2021
  6. ^ a b c d e Pele Broberg er ikke længere naalakkersuisoq for udenrigsanliggender (in Danish), KNR, 27 September 2021, retrieved 27 September 2021
  7. ^ knr.gl - Koalition mellem Siumut, Demokraterne og Atassut
  8. ^ sermitsiaq.ag - Siumut, Atassut og Demokraterne danner koalition
  9. ^ Hansen, Nukappiaaluk (27 October 2016). "Her er de nye medlemmer af Naalakkersuisut". Sermitsiaq.ag (in Danish). Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  10. ^ Uldum, Simon (27 October 2016). "Her er det nye Naalakkersuisut". KNR.gl (in Danish). Retrieved 12 January 2017.
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