Siumut's chairman is very unhappy that two members of Naalakkersuisut, Anna Wangenheim and Naaja H. Nathanielsen, are running for the Folketing.
- What the hell? I'm not the only one asking this question. The whole society is asking, says Aleqa Hammond.
It is now being questioned whether Siumut can stay in the government after the harsh criticism.
Does this mean that you are considering withdrawing from the coalition?
– We cannot remain in government if we know that our partners, Inuit Ataqatigiit and the Democrats, repeatedly circumvent the law.
You cannot be a part-time minister
Aleqa Hammond argues in her criticism that the job of naalakkersuisoq is a full-time job
– If they want to run, let them do it. The problem is that the job of naalakkersuisoq is a 100 percent full-time job. It is a requirement that you live in Nuuk, because the job requires full presence, she says.
The Act on Inatsisartut and Naalakkersuisut from 18 November 2010, Chapter 5, states:
"Subsection 4. The Chairman of Inatsisartut, the Chairman of Naalakkersuisut and the members of Naalakkersuisut may not, while they hold these offices or professions, take on new offices or professions, unless the Election Review Committee grants permission to do so."
The Act means that a sitting member of Naalakkersuisut cannot hold other offices without approval from the Election Review Committee. However, the Act does not prohibit the right to run for other positions during the election period. A member of Naalakkersuisut must, however, resign, for example if the person concerned is elected to the Folketing.
I am surprised
It is now up to the Siumut executive board to decide whether the party should continue to be part of the coalition.
– We will discuss our political situation in the main board. You must arm yourself with patience, says the chairman.
The chairman is surprised that members of Naalakkersuisut are running for the Folketing.
– I was very surprised when the first member ran. And I was even more surprised when the next one did. I am not questioning the people, but the action, she says.
Aleqa: Should they all run?
Therefore, she believes that the chairman of Naalakkersuisut should announce what is happening.
- 'if I am elected, I will resign, if I am not elected, I will return and become naalakkersuisoq again'. This is not how you govern the country. The chairman of Naalakkersuisut must step in, says Aleqa Hammond.
Aleqa Hammond is concerned that more members of the Greenlandic Parliament may run.
- The Chairman of the Naalakkersuisut must explain: What is happening? What are his members of the Naalakkersuisut doing? Should many of them run? Or is being a member of the Naalakkersuisut a side job?, says Aleqa Hammond.
Jens-Frederik: It is their democratic right
The Chairman of the Naalakkersuisut, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, is annoyed by those who threaten to leave the coalition.
– I think it is a shame if the government questions being part of the government because of the two who are running for the Folketing, says Jens-Frederik Nielsen.
Elections to the Folketing are a democratic right, he believes.
– As Chairman of the Naalakkersuisut, I will not deprive individuals – members of the Naalakkersuisut, Inatsisartut members and other citizens – of their right. They can therefore run in accordance with the law, and they are exercising that right, he says.
He points out that the two members of Naalakkersuisut who are running for the Folketing will no longer be members of Naalakkersuisut if they are elected. He adds, however, that they will not take leave during the election campaign. But there is only one who can decide that.
– It is the people. And if the people decide that someone should sit on behalf of our country in the Folketing, I will respect the people's decision, he says.
