Naalakkersuisut ( en, Cabinet of Greenland, da, Grønlands Regering), is the chief executive body and the government of
Greenland
Greenland ( kl, Kalaallit Nunaat, ; da, Grønland, ) is an island country in North America that is part of the Kingdom of Denmark. It is located between the Arctic and Atlantic oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Greenland is t ...
since the island became self-governing in 1979. An "autonomous territory" ( da, land) of the
Kingdom of Denmark, takes place in a framework of a
parliamentary
A parliamentary system, or parliamentarian democracy, is a system of democratic governance of a state (or subordinate entity) where the executive derives its democratic legitimacy from its ability to command the support ("confidence") of the ...
representative democratic territory
A territory is an area of land, sea, or space, particularly belonging or connected to a country, person, or animal.
In international politics, a territory is usually either the total area from which a state may extract power resources or a ...
, whereby the
premier (''Naalakkersuisut Siulittaasuat'') leads the
cabinet
Cabinet or The Cabinet may refer to:
Furniture
* Cabinetry, a box-shaped piece of furniture with doors and/or drawers
* Display cabinet, a piece of furniture with one or more transparent glass sheets or transparent polycarbonate sheets
* Filing ...
, and of a
multi-party system
In political science, a multi-party system is a political system in which multiple political parties across the political spectrum run for national elections, and all have the capacity to gain control of government offices, separately or in ...
.
There are around 10 members of the Cabinet, 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.
Executive power
Executive power rests with a high commissioner, and a
prime minister
A prime minister, premier or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. Under those systems, a prime minister i ...
heads the Cabinet. The
high commissioner of Greenland is appointed by the
monarch
A monarch is a head of stateWebster's II New College DictionarMonarch Houghton Mifflin. Boston. 2001. p. 707. for life or until abdication, and therefore the head of state of a monarchy. A monarch may exercise the highest authority and power i ...
(since 2011:
Queen Margrethe II
Margrethe II (; Margrethe Alexandrine Þórhildur Ingrid, born 16 April 1940) is Queen of Denmark. Having reigned as Denmark's monarch for over 50 years, she is Europe's longest-serving current head of state and the world's only incumbent femal ...
), and the prime minister is elected indirectly by parliament elections results for four-year terms.
Current cabinet
The Naalakkersuisut is divided into a number of areas of responsibility each led by a ''Naalakkersuisoq'' ( en, Minister) with powers corresponding to that of a
minister or secretary of government. The cabinet is based on a coalition in the
Inatsisartut
The Inatsisartut ( kl, Inatsisartut; '' da, Landstinget, lit=''the land's- thing'' of Greenland''), also known as the Parliament of Greenland in English, is the unicameral parliament (legislative branch) of Greenland, an autonomous territory* ...
of the parties
Inuit Ataqatigiit
Inuit Ataqatigiit (, , da, Folkets Samfund) is a democratic socialist, separatist political party in Greenland that aims to make Greenland an independent state. The party, founded as a political organisation in 1976, was born out of the increas ...
and
Naleraq
Naleraq (, ), previously known as Partii Naleraq, is a centrist-populist pro-independence political party in Greenland.
History
In January 2014 Hans Enoksen announced that he was forming a new political party after leaving Siumut. In the Nove ...
with the support of
Atassut
Atassut ( en, Cohesion / Link / Togetherness / Solidarity; also referred to as Feeling of Community) is a liberal-conservative and unionist political party in Greenland. Founded on 29 April 1978, Atassut is an established partner of the Liber ...
. Since 23 April 2021, the current composition of the Naalakkersuisut is as follows:
Legislative power
Legislative power is shared by the government and the legislature. The legislature or
Self-rule of Greenland ( kl, Namminersorlutik Oqartussat, da, Selvstyre) is made up of 31 members in the ''
Inatsisartut
The Inatsisartut ( kl, Inatsisartut; '' da, Landstinget, lit=''the land's- thing'' of Greenland''), also known as the Parliament of Greenland in English, is the unicameral parliament (legislative branch) of Greenland, an autonomous territory* ...
'' elected by direct, popular vote to serve four-year terms.
The current composition is shown below:
Judicial power
The
judiciary
The judiciary (also known as the judicial system, judicature, judicial branch, judiciative branch, and court or judiciary system) is the system of courts that adjudicates legal disputes/disagreements and interprets, defends, and applies the law ...
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
The Folketing ( da, Folketinget, ; ), also known as the Parliament of Denmark or the Danish Parliament in English, is the unicameral national legislature (parliament) of the Kingdom of Denmark—Denmark proper together with the Faroe Islands ...
''.
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
The Judiciary of Greenland consists of 4 district courts ( Greenlandic: ''Eqqartuussisoqarfik'', Danish: ''Kredsret''), the Court of Greenland ( Greenlandic: ''Kalaallit Nunaanni Eqqartuussivik'', Danish: ''Retten i Grønland''), and the High Cour ...
, and an appeal court the
High Court of Greenland
The High Court of Greenland ( kl, Kalaallit Nunaanni Eqqartuussisuuneqarfik - da, Grønlands Landsret) is the central court of Greenland, located in the capital city, Nuuk
Nuuk (; da, Nuuk, formerly ) is the capital and largest city of Green ...
. No appeal is possible to decisions of the Joint Court of Justice, but fundamental "questions of law" may be submitted to the
Østre Landsret
The Østre Landsret (the Eastern High Court) is one of Denmark's two High Courts, along with the Vestre Landsret (Western High Court). Both High Courts function as a civil and criminal appellate court for cases from the subordinate courts and furth ...
and the
Supreme Court of Denmark
The Supreme Court (, lit. ''Highest Court'', , ) is the supreme court and the third and final instance in all civil and criminal cases in the Kingdom of Denmark. It is based at Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen which also houses the Danish Pa ...
in
cassation. Verdicts by those institutions may lead to a new decision of the Joint Court, taking into account the results of the cassation.
Naalakkersuisut 2016
In late October 2016, the current government coalition was changed to consist of the parties
Siumut
Siumut (, ) is a political party in Greenland in the social democratic tradition. Since the establishment of home rule in 1979, it has been the dominant party in Greenland. Siumut is led by Erik Jensen, who beat the then-incumbent Prime Ministe ...
(S),
Inuit Ataqatigiit
Inuit Ataqatigiit (, , da, Folkets Samfund) is a democratic socialist, separatist political party in Greenland that aims to make Greenland an independent state. The party, founded as a political organisation in 1976, was born out of the increas ...
(IA), and
Partii Naleraq
Naleraq (, ), previously known as Partii Naleraq, is a centrist-populist pro-independence political party in Greenland.
History
In January 2014 Hans Enoksen announced that he was forming a new political party after leaving Siumut. In the Novem ...
(PN). The composition of the Naalakkersuisut was as follows:
Naalakkersuisut 2014
Parliamentary elections were held on 28 November 2014 and
Kim Kielsen
Kim Kielsen (born 30 November 1966) is a Greenlandic politician, who served as leader of the Siumut party and sixth prime minister of Greenland between 2014 and 2021.
Careers Past careers
Kielsen was originally a mariner, and then a police office ...
, leader of the
Siumut
Siumut (, ) is a political party in Greenland in the social democratic tradition. Since the establishment of home rule in 1979, it has been the dominant party in Greenland. Siumut is led by Erik Jensen, who beat the then-incumbent Prime Ministe ...
party, was designated as Prime Minister by a coalition of the parties
Siumut
Siumut (, ) is a political party in Greenland in the social democratic tradition. Since the establishment of home rule in 1979, it has been the dominant party in Greenland. Siumut is led by Erik Jensen, who beat the then-incumbent Prime Ministe ...
,
Democrats, and
Atassut
Atassut ( en, Cohesion / Link / Togetherness / Solidarity; also referred to as Feeling of Community) is a liberal-conservative and unionist political party in Greenland. Founded on 29 April 1978, Atassut is an established partner of the Liber ...
. The coalition was formed on 4 December 2014, Siumut has five ministers, Democrats 2 and Attasut 2.
sermitsiaq.ag - Siumut, Atassut og Demokraterne danner koalition
/ref>
Naalakkersuisut 2013
Parliamentary elections were held on March 12, 2013, and Aleqa Hammond
Aleqa Hammond (born 23 September 1965) is a Greenlandic politician and former member of the Danish Folketing (parliament). Formerly the leader of the Siumut party, she became Greenland's first female prime minister after her party emerged as the l ...
, leader of the Siumut
Siumut (, ) is a political party in Greenland in the social democratic tradition. Since the establishment of home rule in 1979, it has been the dominant party in Greenland. Siumut is led by Erik Jensen, who beat the then-incumbent Prime Ministe ...
party, was designated as Prime Minister by a coalition of the parties Siumut
Siumut (, ) is a political party in Greenland in the social democratic tradition. Since the establishment of home rule in 1979, it has been the dominant party in Greenland. Siumut is led by Erik Jensen, who beat the then-incumbent Prime Ministe ...
, Partii Inuit
The Inuit Party ( kl, Partii Inuit, ) was a separatist party in Greenland, formed by dissidents from the then-governing Inuit Ataqatigiit (IA). The party was opposed to the so-called big-scale law, and wanted a referendum on the law. Mette Lynge ...
, and Atassut
Atassut ( en, Cohesion / Link / Togetherness / Solidarity; also referred to as Feeling of Community) is a liberal-conservative and unionist political party in Greenland. Founded on 29 April 1978, Atassut is an established partner of the Liber ...
.
References
External links
Naalakkersuisut.gl - Official website of The Cabinet of Greenland
Naalakkersuisut.gl - Official website of The Cabinet of Greenland
{{Authority control
Government of Greenland
Greenland
Greenland ( kl, Kalaallit Nunaat, ; da, Grønland, ) is an island country in North America that is part of the Kingdom of Denmark. It is located between the Arctic and Atlantic oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Greenland is t ...
Politics of Greenland
Greenland politics-related lists