Vivian's last move in Siumut: - Going over our heads is undemocratic

Vivian Motzfeldt lifts a pile of papers and presses them into a large blue shredding bin on Tuesday morning. A special time has come to an end in Vivian Motzfeldt's political life.

Both here in the Department of Foreign Affairs, where we are, but also as a member of Siumut. She continues as a member of Inatsisartut, but the decision has been made while she stands there tearing up paper.

She resigns from Siumut. Now it just needs to be told to both party members and the population.

Goodbye Siumut

With determined steps, Vivian Motzfeldt from the department walks past the reception and up the party corridor. At the party office she stops for a split second. She glances over at the poster hanging opposite in the corridor, which depicts her, and then the striking message "hope" underneath.

The poster was made by Liv Aurora in connection with Vivian Motzfeldt and Lars Løkke Rasmussen's historic meetings in Washington DC in January.

First she goes to party secretary Aviaja Hegelund-Tittussen and announces her resignation. Then she goes into the party office, which has shrunk in size after the last election, but which suddenly seems large after the halving of mandates on top of her and Kim Kielsen's resignation.

She briefly and formally says goodbye and thanks to party member Lars Poulsen, who is sitting and having lunch.

Vivian Motzfeldt is relieved, but still stops on the way back to her office in the department at a bronze sculpture depicting the Siumut luminary and former chairman of the provincial government, Jonathan Motzfeldt. She gently places her hand on the sculpture's shoulder. - I miss him. He managed to bring people together instead of dividing them.

Back in the office in the department, she calls Kim Kielsen. He doesn't answer the phone. Then she calls the chairman of Naalakkersuisut, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, and explains her exit.

Lastly, it's party chairman Aleqa Hammond. Vivian Motzfeldt walks around restlessly, stops at her office chair and fiddles with various things while she talks.

After about two minutes of conversation, it's official. She's no longer part of Siumut. Now all that's missing are yellow bars in the media.

- Many people think that we have come out of this crisis. We are not at all. That is why it is important that we stand together and work for the people. And in the middle of it all, when it is most important that the forces are united, I cannot understand this decision (to pull Siumut out of the coalition). I do not want to be part of it, and I do not accept it. That is why I have decided to withdraw, she says and continues.

- I feel fine and relieved. I think we have an undemocratic leader. This is about democracy - we are elected representatives. Going over our heads is undemocratic. You have put the party before the people, and that says a lot about values ​​that I cannot share, explains Vivian Motzfeldt about her resignation.

From national hero to summer house in Igaliku

Vivian Motzfeldt was welcomed as a national hero in January when she landed in Nuuk after the historic meetings in Washington DC. Now - two months later - she is neither Naalakkersuisoq nor part of Siumut anymore. Politics is so changeable.

So it's not just a farewell to Siumut, for which she has served in Inatsisartut since 2014. It's also a farewell to the role of naalakkersuisoq for foreign affairs, where for the past year she has been right in the eye of the hurricane in the geopolitical storm Greenland has been in since Trump expressed his desire to take over Greenland.

But what does she actually remember about her time as naalakkersuisoq, for which she is standing there packing up her office?

- There are many things I will remember. Of course the meeting in Washington. And then meeting the Pope. It's no coincidence that he wanted to meet with me. The first time Greenland met with the Pope in 1982, it was in connection with the fight to leave the EC. And now it was after all that with the USA. You also have to remember that J.D. Vance and Marco Rubio are Catholics, so their message also has great significance.

Vivian Motzfeldt recalls growing up on a sheep farm, where she fell through the ice alone in the dark. Where nature raged right outside the door.

Being tough was part of her upbringing. Something she has brought with her to her job as Naalakkersuisoq. She also remembers a special anecdote from her childhood from the meeting with Vice President J.D. Vance.

- I told him that my father killed three polar bears in his underwear. You have to remember that.

What now?

A drawing from Vivian Motzfeldt's grandson suddenly appears among the many stacks of paper. She places it neatly on the table next to the folded clothes, and moves to a picture of Igaliku, which hangs above the sofa in her office.

- We bought a house in Igaliku this summer, but I haven't seen it yet. There will be time for that now.

But even though there is time to visit the summer house now, Vivian Motzfeldt will miss work.

- I have had big posts since I was elected, so I will miss working hard. I love working hard, but at least I am still a member of Inatsisartut.

Vivian Motzfeldt stands in the middle of the office and looks around. What now - what should be packed up next? And what should actually happen - just in general. Does she have any thoughts about joining other parties?

- I don't like to interrupt the work that is already going on in the coalition. I have also told the other parties that. What should happen now, I need to spend some time considering.