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SPRING MEETING 2026

Justus Hansen: The situation is serious

On Thursday there will be a debate on foreign policy issues in Iinatsisartut.
KASSAALUK KRISTENSEN
KASSAALUK KRISTENSEN Digitalredaktør
Hanna Hviid
Hanna Hviid Hanna Hviid Hanna Hviid Journalist
Thomas Munk Veirum
Thomas Munk Veirum Journalist
Published

  • Justus Hansen: The situation is serious

    On Thursday, the Foreign Policy Statement of the Greenlanders will be discussed, and the debate in Inatsisartut will naturally focus on the pressure from the USA.

    Demokraatit's spokesperson Justus Hansen said in his speech that the situation remains serious:

    - The foreign policy situation we are in is serious. The development in the USA has not only created uncertainty, but has also fundamentally raised questions about our right to determine our country and our future.

    - When the American side repeatedly talks about control over Greenland, it is not just words. It is an approach that we have to take very seriously, said Justus Hansen, among others.

    He warned that there is a risk of influence in the political environment:

    - Therefore, we must be very careful. We must stand firm on our values, on our democracy and on our cohesion. For Demokraatit, it is absolutely central that we stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies in this situation, said Justus Hansen, who emphasized cooperation with the EU, NATO and the Kingdom:

    - Our natural home is in Western cooperation. It is in the EU and in NATO that we find the partnerships that are based on respect, democracy and common values. This is where we find stability in a troubled world.

    - At the same time, it is crucial that we stand closely together in the Kingdom, said Justus Hansen, who emphasized several times during the debate that he assesses that there is still a threat from the USA.

  • Here are the new members of the Inatsisartut committee

    On Tuesday, Inatsisartut met for the first day of the spring session. And since the coalition has become one party smaller since last time, new committee positions also had to be determined.

    It takes place in a closed meeting, but now the decisions have been published on Inatsisartut's website.

    See how the committee positions are distributed here:

    Finance and Taxation Committee

    · Chairman: Aqqalu C. Jerimiassen (A)

    · Vice-Chairman: Pele Broberg (N)

    · Member: Hans-Erik Enoksen (D)

    · Member: Margrethe Thårup Andersen (D)

    · Member: Ane Hansen (IA)

    Foreign and Security Policy Committee

    · Chairman: Pipaluk Lynge (IA)

    · Vice-Chairman: Pele Broberg (N)

    · Member: Justus Hansen (D)

    · Member: Nivi Heilmann Efraimsen (IA)

    · Member: Bentiaraq Ottosen (A)

    Fisheries, Hunting and Agriculture Committee

    · Chairman: Bentiaraq Ottosen (A)

    · Deputy chairman: Jens NapãtôK' (N)

    · Member: Pipaluk Olsen (D)

    · Member: Kristian Jeremiassen (IA)

    Law Committee

    · Deputy chairman: Kuno Fencker (N)

    · Member: Karen-Marie Kyed Frederiksen (D)

    · Member: Nivi Rosing (IA)

    · Member: Bo Martinsen (D)

    Audit Committee

    · Chairman: Nivi Rosing (IA)

    · Vice-Chairman: Erik Jensen (S)

    · Member: Ida Vahl (D)

    · Member: Mimi Karlsen (IA)

    · Member: Bentiaraq Ottosen (A)

    Family and Health Committee

    · Chairman: Pipaluk Olsen (D)

    · Vice-Chairman: Aki-Matilda Høegh-Dam (N)

    · Member: Bo Martinsen (D)

    · Member: Paarma Lund Kreutzmann (IA)

    · Member: Bentiaraq Ottosen (A)

    Committee for Culture, Education, Research and Church

    · Chairman: Nivi Heilmann Efraimsen (IA)

    · Vice-Chairman: Isak Johannesen (N)

    · Member: Margrethe Thårup Andersen (D)

    · Member: Karen-Marie Kyed Frederiksen (D)

    · Member: Nivi Rosing (IA)

    Plants Committee

    · Chairman: Justus Hansen (D)

    · Vice-Chairman: Gerth Mikaelsen (N)

    · Member: Hans-Erik Enoksen (D)

    · Member: Nivi Heilmann Efraimsen (IA)

    · Member: Bentiaraq Ottosen (A)

    Business and The Raw Materials Committee

    · Chairman: Mimi Karlsen (IA)

    · Deputy chairman: Juno Berthelsen (N)

    · Member: Napaartoq Petrussen (D)

    · Member: Vivian Motzfeldt (Freelancer)

    Conservation and Environment Committee

    · Chairman: Napaartoq Petrussen (D)

    · Vice-chairman: Mette Arqe-Hammeken (N)

    · Member: Parma Lund Kreutzmann (IA)

    · Member: Kristian Jeremiassen (IA)

    Committee for Election Trial

    · Chairman: Paarma Lund Kreutzmann (IA)

    · Vice-Chairman: Kuno Fencker (N)

    · Member: Karen-Marie Kyed Frederiksen (D)

    · Member: Bo Martinsen (D)

    · Member: Bentiaraq Ottosen (A)

    Committee for the Rules of Procedure

    · Chairman: Kim Kielsen (Independent)

    · Member: Per Berthelsen (D)

    · Member: Mimi Karlsen (IA)

    · Member: Aki-Matilda Høegh-Dam (N)

    · Member: Aqqalu C. Jerimiassen (A)

    · Member: Lars Poulsen (S)

  • Nivi Rosing becomes Chairman of the Audit Committee

    Yesterday, Inatsisartut decided at a closed meeting who will sit on which committees. However, the new committee compositions have not yet been published.

    However, Nivi Rosing (IA) writes on Facebook that she has gone from one committee position to three.

    According to the post, she has become chair of the Audit Committee, a member of the Committee for Culture, Education, Research and Church and the Legal Committee.

    - In addition to that, I also sit on the eligibility committee and the delegation for ICC on behalf of Inatsisartut.

    - I am looking forward to working in these different positions, she writes.

  • The Fisheries, Hunting and Agriculture Committee gets a new chair

    While we wait for the official list of the new committee members in Inatsisartut, another politician has announced on Facebook that they have been given an important post.

    Former Naalakkersuisoq for Social Affairs, Labor Market, Home Affairs and Environment Bentiaraq Ottosen (A) writes in a post that he has become chairman of Inatsisartut's Fisheries, Hunting and Agriculture Committee.

    - There are undoubtedly many tasks, and it is important that I continue to work hard for the fishing industry, he writes.

    Bentiaraq Ottosen resigned as Naalakkersuisoq in November 2025 as a result of the failed case regarding a new job portal. He has not held a committee position so far.

  • The time limit is postponed – again

    Today and yesterday, two items on moving the standard time zone in Greenland back to UTC-3 were to be discussed in Inatsisartut.

    But again, again the items have been postponed. According to the chairman of Inatsisartut Kim Kielsen (independent), this is because the Law Committee has requested a postponement of the items. He said this in the chamber on Tuesday.

    It is Siumut and Naleraq – who are now both opposition parties – who have proposed moving the clocks back again, so that the time difference with Denmark in the future will be four hours. They also want to abolish daylight saving time completely.

    The items were first discussed at the autumn session of 2025, where they were also supposed to be completed. Then they were postponed to the winter session, which was, however, cancelled on the first day. And now they have been postponed again.

    According to the current agenda, items 2. are to be discussed on May 5 and 3. on May 15.

    Why the decision is constantly being postponed is unclear. When the items were discussed on May 1, there was immediate support from all parties. Since then, however, Siumut has left the coalition.

    It was a unanimous decision by Inatsisartut, which in 2022 decided to change the time zone to the current UTC-2, but Siumut has acknowledged to Sermitsiaq that it was a mistake that they now want to correct.

  • New Naalakkersuisoq Jørgen Rosbach: I am ready

    The Demokraatits Jørgen Rosbach is one of the new additions to the Naalakkersuisut tribe.

    He was elected to Inatsisartut last year, and he tells Sermitsiaq that he is ready to take on more responsibility.

    - When I ran for Inatsisartut last year, I had already made it clear to myself that I would not hesitate to take on more responsibility, whether it be committee work in Inatsisartut or a responsibility in Naalakkersuisut. So I am ready, says Jørgen Rosbach.

    Regarding which priorities he will work on, he will spend the first time getting into the areas of responsibility, which include environment, nature, energy and research.

    - The initiatives that will come will be in line with Naalakkersuisut agreements, he says.

  • Iddimanngiiu Jensen Bianco: I am ready to take responsibility

    IA's Iddimanngiiu Jensen Bianco from Tasiilaq, will become a member of Naalakkersuisut for the first time. She will be responsible for housing, infrastructure, outlying districts and emergency response.

    To Sermitsiaq, Iddimanngiiu Jensen Bianco tells that she is ready to take responsibility:

    - I myself come from an outlying district, as they call it. That area, I think, will play a big role in my work, but also in relation to infrastructure. Right now we can see that there are still challenges with passenger transport in East Greenland, but also more housing in poor condition, she says.

    She does not hide that it will be a good challenge for her to become Naalakkersuisut, but she is also ready for tough prioritization:

    - As for the outer districts in Greenland, I will investigate what specific challenges there are that we can look at and do something about. I look forward to getting started with the work, says Iddimanngiiu Jensen Bianco.

    Iddimanngiiu Jensen Bianco is a new member of Naalakkersuisut.

  • Leave approved - deputies in place

    The three new members of Naalakkersuisut, who have requested leave, have had their request approved.

    In addition, new member of Naalakkersuisut, Marita Broberg (A), has been approved for election.

    Ane Hansen and Kristian Jeremiassen have been summoned as deputies for IA's new members of the Naalakkersuisut.

    Ida Vahl is summoned as deputy for Demokraatit's new member of the Naalakkersuisut, Jørgen Rosbach.

  • Three new members of the Naalakkersuisut request leave

    The Inatsisartut is taking a short break until 12.15.

    The chairmanship will consider a request for leave from the three new members of the Naalakkersuisut, who are sitting in the Inatsisartut.

    These are Jørgen Rosbach and Marianne Paviasen and Iddimanngiiu Jensen Bianco.

  • New Naalakkersuisut approved

    After a long debate, Jens-Frederik Nielsen's proposal for a new Naalakkersuisut is now being voted on.

    18 votes in favor of the new Naalakkersuisut. 10 have abstained.

    The new Naalakkersuisut is a reality.

    - I look forward to constructive and productive cooperation between Inatsisartut and Naalakkersuisut in the years ahead, says Jens-Frederik Nielsen from the podium.

    The distribution of jurisdictional areas can be seen further down in the blog.

  • Motzfeldt: We are not judges

    Former member of Siumut and Naalakkersuisut, Vivian Motzfeldt, also intervenes in the debate:

    - The population also wants to hear a sober mood here from the hall, no matter how much one disagrees. We are not judges from the podium, she says.

    Siumut's Erik Jensen is still on the podium and answers questions regarding his criticism of Anna Wangenheim's candidacy for the general election in connection with the election of the new Naalakkersuisut.

  • Opposition will not vote for new Naalakkersuisut

    Naleraq has some comments on the proposal for a new Naalakkersuisut:

    - There have been major changes recently. Recently, people wore face masks. Now it's as if they are blindfolded and refuse to see the whole of society, says rapporteur Jens Napãtôk'.

    Jens Napatok speaks at length about the conditions in society, which he does not think are okay.

    So Naleraq cannot participate in the vote regarding the new Naalakkersuisut members. Naleraq abstains from voting again.

  • Siumut will not approve either

    Nor will Siumut vote in favor.

    - Naalakkersuisut will not lack tasks. It is a bit surprising and strange that Naalakkersuisut members have been nominated who are sending job applications or have plans to travel to Denmark, says Erik Jensen.

    Erik Jensen is probably talking about Anna Wangenheim, who sought election to the Folketing.

    The announcement causes IA's Pipaluk Lynge to react. She asks if Siumut is against standing for election.

    - We from Siumut protect the various rights. For us, it is strange that a naalakkersuisoq is looking for new opportunities, says Erik Jensen.

  • Wangenheim asks for the floor himself

    Chairman Kim Kielsen intervenes and states that the debate should be on new members of the Naalakkersuisut, not the election to the Folketing.

    The debate and thus the election of the new Naalakkersuisut drags on. Erik Jensen maintains his criticism of the fact that members of the Naalakkersuisut chose to run for the Folketing.

    Anna Wangenheim asks for the floor, and she says that there was a lot of consideration behind her decision to run for the election.

    She says that she has been 100 percent present in her job as naalakkersuisoq.

  • Here is the new Naalakkersuisut

    Jens-Frederik Nielsen now takes the podium.

    He asks for the election of the following members to the Naalakkersuisut.

    There are four new members in the form of Jørgen Rosbach (D), Iddimanngiiu Jensen Bianco (IA), Maritha Broberg (A) and Mariane Paviassen Jensen (IA).

    Note that it will be IA chairman Múte B. Egede who will take over Vivian Motzfeldt's area of ​​responsibility for foreign affairs, which has been under particularly great pressure during the great pressure from the USA.

    IA deputy chairman Aqqaluaq B. Egede will become the new Naalakkersuisut for finance.

    Here is the entire list along with the distribution of areas of responsibility.

  • Kim Kielsen re-elected to important post

    Inatsisartut is now in the process of electing a chairman for Inatsisartut.

    Demokraatit nominates Kim Kielsen, who thus appears to continue in office.

    Vivian Motzfeldt is nominated as an alternate.

    The two politicians have reached an agreement to continue supporting the coalition, and this is possibly the basis for Kim Kielsen being able to continue in office.

    Naleraq's Jens Napãtôk' has then taken the podium. He complains about the rules of procedure, where Naleraq believes that the chairman should have been elected until the autumn without a new election.

  • Opposition is dissatisfied

    Naleraq will abstain from voting, it is said.

    Kim Kielsen says that because the chairman (himself) has become an independent, there must be an election.

    He believes that the rules of procedure have been followed.

    Now it is Erik Jensen's turn at the podium. He also does not believe that the rules of procedure have been followed.

    Kim Kielsen interrupts Erik Jensen and reminds him that the agenda item is about the election of a chairman.

    Kielsen is approved as chairman and Vivian Motzfeldt as deputy with 18 votes in favor.

  • The meeting is in progress

    Current chairman of Inatsisartut, independent Kim Kielsen, has opened the meeting.

    He begins by talking about cooperation:

    - Only through dialogue and cooperation can we create the change we want, he begins.

    He then informs that Naaja H. Nathanielsen has requested leave due to elections to the Folketing.

    He also states that Vivian Motzfeldt has resigned from Naalakkersuisut on March 13 and rejoined as a member of Inatsisartut.

    Siumut's Anders Olsen has therefore resigned.

    - I hope our meetings will take place in a good and constructive atmosphere, says Kielsen.

  • Erik Jensen: Siumut will correct mistakes

    Siumut's Erik Jensen says immediately before the meeting that Siumut is now ready to be in opposition:

    - We will be on the offensive rather than having to defend. We look forward to being in constructive opposition, Erik Jensen tells Sermitsiaq.

    A particular point is important for the party:

    - The timing is very important to us. It is a choice between the wishes of the population (we admit it was not a good decision we made at the time). Siumut admits the mistake and will correct it as soon as possible. Is it the wishes of the population or a specific company that should determine the fate of the times, asks Erik Jensen.

    Erik Jensen before today's meeting in Inatsisartut.

  • Wangenheim: New Naalakkersuisut members are ready

    Demokraatits Anna Wangenheim has shared a photo on Facebook, where she writes that four new members of Naalakkersuisut are ready to be installed on Tuesday.

    Wangenheim does not write the names of the new members of Naalakkersuisut, but the photo shows a politician who has not been in the picture since the election to Inatsisartut last year, namely IA's Ane Hansen.

    Ane Hansen is number four on the IA's list of deputies, so it may be that she will join Inatsisartut as a deputy, but it is certainly also possible that the experienced politician has been appointed to take on a role in Naalakkersuisut.

    Anna Wangenheim writes in her post that it requires broad cooperation so that democracy is as strong as possible.

    - We look forward to the decisions that will be made, for the benefit of the entire population, writes the politician.

    See Anna Wangenheim's photo with fellow politicians here.

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