The party with the major internal conflicts

On Friday last week, Siumut chairman Aleqa Hammond withdrew Siumut from the coalition on the grounds that the party could not see itself in a coalition where a number of areas of responsibility were without a permanent naalakkersuisoq with reference to the fact that Bentiaraq Ottosen and Maasi Pedersen had left their posts in Naalakkersuisut.

The final straw was reportedly that naalakkersuisoq for health and people with disabilities Anna Wangenheim (D) and naalakkersuisoq for business, raw materials, the justice sector and equality Naaja H. Nathanielsen (IA) had registered their candidacy for the Folketing.

Motzfeldt and Kielsen go into protest

With Siumut's exit from Naalakkersuisut, the party, which originally had four mandates in Inatsisartut, waved goodbye to the post of naalakkersuisoq for foreign affairs, which Vivian Motzfeldt has been responsible for since 2021.

Vivian Motzfeldt was openly dissatisfied with the chairman's decision to withdraw the party from the coalition, and on Tuesday left the party in protest. Shortly afterwards, long-time Siumut member and chairman of Inatsisartut Kim Kielsen did the same.

At the time of writing, the party is left with two mandates: Erik Jensen and Lars Poulsen, who respectively hold the chairmanship of the Finance and Tax Committees and the chairmanship of the Committees for Fisheries, Hunting and Agriculture.

It must be assumed that these positions will change chairmen when the spring session starts on April 14.

Surprising and mysterious timing

Lecturer and center leader for Nasiffik at Ilisimatusarfik, Rasmus Leander Nielsen, is a bit surprised by Siumut's timing - in the middle of the election campaign for the Folketing.

– In terms of timing, it is surprising and a bit mysterious. I find it difficult to see that it would be a gain for the party in relation to the parliamentary elections. Vivian Motzfeldt was very popular with the general population and enjoyed great recognition for her work as naalakkersuisoq. And there are also some rather strange reasons that have come forward from the chairman. First it was about the fact that there were members of Naalakkersuisut who were running for parliament and later that the broad coalition was not working. But it is clear that since Aleqa Hammond was elected as chairman of Siumut last summer, there have been rumors that she would pull the party out of the coalition, so in that way it is not surprising that it is happening.

A party with internal conflicts

According to Rasmus Leander Nielsen, the fact that first Vivian Motzfeldt and then Kim Kielsen are leaving the party in protest is, but also symptomatic of the party.

– It is not the first time in Greenland's history that Siumut luminaries have become angry. It is a party that has historically had some major internal conflicts. In addition, it is a party that has seen itself as a power party for many years, and it can be difficult to suddenly have to play second or third violin or sit in opposition.

Splits and formation of new parties

Senior researcher at the Danish Institute for International Studies, Ulrik Pram Gad, agrees that Siumut has been a party with a built-in split from birth.

– There have always been some in the party who liked to beat the crap out of it, while others preferred to tie knots and make things work. This has led to splits and resulted in splits in the form of other parties such as Demokraatit and Naleraq. Nothing is sacred for Siumut. If you are dissatisfied, you overthrow your leader.

The role of the executive committee

Both Rasmus Leander Nielsen and Ulrik Pram Gad point out that it is a somewhat special situation, that it is the party organization – the executive committee – that has made the decision regarding the Inatsisartut group, and that there are no members of the executive committee who currently sit in Naalakkersuisut or Inatsisartut. This means that there is a risk that they are not very in touch with what is actually happening in the coalition and internationally.

– It has happened in a very arbitrary and formalistic way, where it is the executive committee that has made a decision without regard to the members of Naalakkersuisut and Inatsisartut. If you had an ambition to get the party out in a healthy state, then it would be a good idea to talk, says Ulrik Pram Gad.

Stability in the foreign affairs area

According to Rasmus Leander Nielsen, Vivian Motzfeldt has ensured stability in foreign affairs. This has been important in a time with a lot of focus on Greenland.

Vivian Motzfeldt herself has expressed that there is a risk that negotiations with the USA and Denmark will have to start a little over again, even though the working group is at the civil service level with participation from Greenland's Head of Mission in Washington Jakob Isbosethsen and the Director of the Foreign Affairs Directorate Mininnguaq Kleist.

– Regardless of whether you are a Siumut fan or not, it has been good for Greenland that there has been stability in the area. But having said that, it is also possible that there will be a new Minister of Foreign Affairs in Denmark after the election. That is the game. And after all, it is the civil service that is the stable factor that will brief the new ministers. There is of course also the possibility that Vivian will join another party and can thus continue in office. Time will tell, says Rasmus Leander Nielsen.

The civil service will continue their work

Ulrik Pram Gad also does not believe that it means much externally that there are now changes in the coalition.

– Formally, it doesn't matter as long as there is a coalition that has a majority in Inatsisartut. And in any case, there will be a new constellation of politicians after the general election in Denmark. It is the civil service that is in charge of the diplomatic process, and they will continue to do so, says Ulrik Pram Gad.

The shoulder-to-shoulder principle is faltering

Birger Poppel, who is emeritus at the Institute of Learning at Ilisimatusarfik, also notes that it has been unique that the broad coalition has stood shoulder to shoulder with Denmark for an entire year.

– That is what has carried us through the crisis and ensured that we have received the great support internationally. "You can say that when the Greenlanders stand together and make a common front with Denmark, it is relatively easy to support, but if it starts to falter, some countries may be more reluctant to take one position or the other. Of course, you cannot deny that it is important that new politicians are added, even though the negotiations in the working group are taking place at the civil servant level. But there is no reason to believe that there will be a change in policy towards the United States, either in the Greenlanders or in the Danish government after the election."