Government of Greenland

Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Greenland
local long form: none
local short form: Kalaallit Nunaat

Data code: GL

Dependency status: part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark since 1979

Government type: parliamentary democracy within a Constitutional monarchy

Capital: Nuuk (Danish: Godthåb)

Administrative divisions: 3 districts (landsdele); Avannaa[?] (Danish: Nordgrønland), Tunu[?] (Danish: Østgrønland), Kitaa[?] (Danish: Vestgrønland)

Independence: none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark since 1979)

National holiday: Birthday of the Queen, 16 April (1940)

Constitution: 5 June 1953 (Danish constitution)

Legal system: Danish

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen Margaret II of Denmark (since 14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner Gunnar MARTENS[?] (since NA 1995)
head of government: Prime Minister Jonathan MOTZFELDT (since NA September 1997)
cabinet: Landsstyre is formed from the Parliament on the basis of the strength of parties
elections: the monarch is hereditary; high commissioner appointed by the monarch; prime minister is elected by Parliament (usually the leader of the majority party); election last held 11 March 1999 (next to be held NA 2003)
election results: Jonathan MOTZFELDT reelected prime minister, receiving 23 out of 31 votes
note: government coalition - Siumut and Atassut

Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Landsting (31 seats; members are elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 17 February 1999 (next to be held by NA 2003)
election results: percent of vote by party - Siumut[?] 35.2%, Inuit Ataqatigiit[?] 22%, Atassut Party[?] 25.2%, Candidate's League[?] 12.3%; seats by party - Siumut 11, Atassut Party 8, Inuit Ataqatigiit 7, Candidate's League 4, independent 1
note: two representatives were elected to the Danish Parliament or Folketing on NA March 1998 (next to be held by NA 2002); percent of vote by party - Siumut 35.6%, Atassut 35.2%; seats by party - Siumut 1, Atassut 1; Greenlandic representatives are affiliated with Danish political parties

Judicial branch: High Court or Landsret

Political parties and leaders: Akulliit Party[?] (Bjarne KREUTZMANN[?]); Atassut Party (Solidarity, a conservative party that favors continuing close relations with Denmark) (Daniel SKIFTE[?]); Candidate's League [leader NA]; Inuit Ataqatigiit or IA (Eskimo Brotherhood, a Marxist-Leninist party that favors complete independence from Denmark rather than home rule) (Josef MOTZFELDT[?]); Issituup[?] (Polar Party) (Nicolai HEINRICH[?]); Siumut (Forward Party, a moderate socialist party that advocates more distinct Greenlandic identity and greater autonomy from Denmark) (Lars Emil JOHANSEN, chairman]

International organization participation: NC, NIB[?]

Diplomatic representation in the US: none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)

Diplomatic representation from the US: none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)

Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red with a large disk slightly to the hoist side of center - the top half of the disk is red, the bottom half is white (see Greenlandic national flag)

See also : Greenland