Naalakkersuisoq for business, raw materials, energy, justice and equality Naaja Nathanielsen has said she is ready to succeed Aaja Chemnitz as IA's representative in the Folketing.
Sermitsiaq met Nathanielsen for a chat about what kind of parliamentarian she imagines to be, if voters want it – and perhaps a simple question in relation to the current political mess. We'll take that later, though.
- I am running because there is a huge task in the coming years in communicating our ambitions to Danish decision-makers, says Naaja Nathanielsen.
- There are changes coming on a scale we haven't seen in decades, and I really want to help shape that process of change, she adds.
We'll start by looking at IA's election program. It starts with some goals such as building the foundation for the Greenland of the future, putting welfare before symbolic politics and strengthening the economy without gambling with security.
More specifically, IA wants a permanent agreement on access to the Danish healthcare system.
There aren't many who disagree with these things, are there, Naaja?
- In such a proposal, it shouldn't be so that you offend the majority of those who read it, Naaja Nathanielsen notes.
This speaks very well to the difference between electing representatives to the Folketing and then the Inatsisartutvalg, where the fronts can be drawn up more tightly, she believes.
- As a member of the Folketing, you quickly come to represent all of Greenland vis-à-vis Denmark, so it becomes a broad-ranging role. Therefore, the question of the Folketing election in reality often comes down to an X-factor that is difficult to determine: Who can represent us best?
Trump made a primary difference
Several candidates have previously touched on the legal policy theme in current interviews with Sermitsiaq. The important topic is, as you know, one of Naaja Nathanielsen's current areas of responsibility as naalakkersuisoq.
But who actually has the most influence in the legal field – Naaja Nathanielsen as naalakkersuisoq or Naaja Nathanielsen as a future member of the Folketing?
- You know what? None of them.
Uh, what?
- In my current position, I negotiated 850 million for the justice sector. A huge boost, even if it just gets us up to a more acceptable level.
- But it wasn't me who made the decision, nor those in the Folketing. It was the fact that Trump started showing interest in Greenland, and then suddenly some processes that had been dormant for years started.
- And that is exactly the point. I am happy with that agreement. But it frustrates me that it took an external threat. That is why I will also use my position as a member of parliament – if I am elected – to hold talks about the overall situation.
What does that approach entail in more concrete terms?
- I would like to be the one who states that things need to be done better, rather than me having 10 million for one thing or another.
So you would rather try to improve the institutions rather than set up many pools for scattered purposes?
- Yes, that is a fair summary. I think we should talk more about investing. And right now there is a willingness on the Danish side to prioritize some things that were not there a few years ago. Perhaps also a greater curiosity about Greenland.
- The world is changing, and we must take on these changes together. This also means that we will have to talk about the structure if there is to be a kingdom in the future, says Naaja Nathanielsen.
Not on my mantle
We came to talk about the parliamentary elections. But it seems that the parliamentary election campaign and Greenlandic domestic politics are intertwined well and truly at the moment.
That is why we will end with a question about the current situation. After Siumut has resigned from Naalakkersuisut with direct reference to Naaja Nathanielsen and Anna Wangenheim (D) running as incumbent Naalakkersuisut.
If you had known in advance how much trouble there would be in the coalition around your nomination, would you have done anything differently?
- I'm sorry that Siumut came to that conclusion, because I think it was the wrong choice. But I don't take it personally. I'm using my democratic right to run for the Danish Parliament. And if you want to make a political criticism, it should come with some real political substance, not about limiting the rights of others.
- So no. I wouldn't have done anything differently, says Naaja Nathanielsen.
