Chairman of Inatsisartut, Kim Kielsen, is now speaking out in the case of the lengthy consideration of two bills, which deal with which time zone should apply and whether Greenland should continue to switch between summer and winter time.
This week it emerged that the second reading of the two bills has been postponed to the autumn session. This happened after the second reading was initially interrupted and the bills sent back for new consideration in the law committee.
The process has sparked criticism from the opposition party Naleraq, which has, among other things, cast doubt on whether Chairman Inatsisartut has followed parliamentary procedures.
Kim Kielsen writes in a press release that it was not the presidency, but the entire Inatsisartut, that decided that the two bills should return to committee:
- And the second reading can only be resumed when the committee has completed the task that has been assigned to it, writes Kielsen.
- No reason to scold the presidency
He further emphasizes that it is entirely up to the committee how much time the committee will spend on the re-consideration of the proposals:
- These are serious issues that the two bills are about. Issues of great importance, not least for the country's citizens. The proposers themselves have pointed this out. And investigations and deliberations take time, writes Kim Kielsen.
He believes that the proposers' dissatisfaction is unfounded:
- The proposers must decide for themselves whether they have the most reason to be happy that their proposals were not rejected on the basis of the decision that was available - or whether they have the most reason to be sad that the proposals can now only be completed at the autumn session.
- They have no reason to scold the presidency, writes Kim Kielsen.
Kielsen is thus referring to the fact that the Law Committee had recommended that the proposals be rejected, but there was support for further consideration.
