Politics of Greenland

Greenland

This article is part of the series: Politics and government of Greenland

Prime Minister Kuupik Kleist Parliament Political parties Elections: 2005, 2009 Administrative divisions Greenland and the EU See also Politics of Denmark

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Politics of Greenland takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic Danish dependency, whereby the Prime Minister is the head of government, and of a multi-party system. Greenland is a self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark since 1979. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the Parliament of Greenland (known as Inatsisartut). The party system is dominated by the social democratic Forward, the separatist and socialist Inuit Community and the conservative liberal and unionist Feeling of Community. The judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature.

Executive branch

The monarch of Denmark is also head of state of Greenland. She is represented by a High Commissioner, appointed by her. The Prime Minister is elected by Parliament and leads the Landsstyre.

Main office holders

Office	Name	Party	Since
Queen	Margarethe II of Denmark		14 January 1972
High Commissioner	Mikala Engell		1 April 2005
Prime Minister	Kuupik Kleist	Inuit Ataqatigiit	12 June 2009

Legislative branch

Greenland has a unicameral Parliament or Landsting (31 seats; members are elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms). Two representatives were elected to the Parliament of Denmark at the last Danish elections, Siumut 1, Inuit Ataqatigiit 1.

Judicial branch

High Court or Landsret.

Administrative divisions

Main article: Administrative divisions of Greenland

Diplomatic representations

With Denmark having responsibility for Greenland's international affairs, other countries do not have direct diplomatic representation in Greenland -- their embassies or consulates in Denmark are responsible for their relations with Greenland and their citizens in Greenland. Greenland is represented internationally by the embassies and consulates of Denmark, although Greenland does directly participate in some Nordic organisations which provide membership for dependent territories.

See also

• Greenlandic independence
• Greenlandic self-government referendum, 2008
• Arctic cooperation and politics
• Arctic policy of Denmark

International organization participation

• Nordic Council
• Nordic Investment Bank