Voters are annoyed: – I don't decide the timing myself, Wangenheim replies

Note: The interview with the Minister for Health and People with Disabilities, Anna Wangenheim (D), was conducted before Siumut announced that they had decided to withdraw from the coalition. Therefore, this is not something that Anna Wangenheim is concerned about.

- I can’t see any other politicians who can be better as the Minister for Health than her. She knows it inside out. Even though I am against Demokraatit, says Dorte Benjaminsen.

She is a substitute teacher at a primary school in Nuuk – and she is one of the voters who – since it was revealed that Anna Wangenheim (D) and Naaja H. Nathanielsen (IA) are running for the parliamentary elections on March 24 – has expressed her annoyance on Facebook.

Although she already knows that she will vote for Naleraq, Dorte Benjaminsen supports Anna Wangenheim (D), as she thinks that she has done well as Naalakkersuisoq for health and people with disabilities.

She believes that she is escaping from her duties by running for the parliamentary elections.

- Of course she has the freedom to run, I just think it is a waste, says Dorte Benjaminsen to Sermitsiaq.

Another voter who is not entirely satisfied is Irene Jensen. She works in the kitchen at Queen Ingrid's Hospital in Nuuk on a daily basis – and she usually votes for the IA.

- For many years, there have been ministers of health who have not had a background in the field. And now we have finally got a minister who was previously a nurse, she says.

- Now, something is finally starting to happen, and it will be very upsetting to me that we will have to take two steps back.

Irene Jensen also doesn't like the fact that the Minister of Industry, Resources, Energy, Justice and Equality, Naaja H. Nathanielsen (IA), has also chosen to run:

- It's a bit of a mess that a Minister of Industry can run when they already hold important positions, she says and adds:

- It's a regrettable trend.

However, she thinks that with Anna Wangenheim's background as a nurse, it will be most difficult to replace her in the Greenlandic Parliament if she is elected.

- With Anna's post, it is an advantage that she is a nurse. I don't know what Naaja is trained as – but the other posts can be taken by almost anyone. It was more Anna's choice that I reacted to, says Irene Jensen.

Wangenheim: - I would like to seize that chance now

The criticism of Anna Wangenheim (D) has been palpable. Naalakkersuisut herself says this when Sermitsiaq talks to her.

- I may experience the criticism based on the fact that people would rather see me continue where I am. And I can understand that, because we have initiated a lot of good things, is her immediate response to the criticism that has been received.

On Tuesday this week, the trade union representing healthcare workers also went out and aired their disappointment over Anna Wangenheim's desire to run for parliament:

- We naturally acknowledge that everyone in a democracy has the right to stand for political elections, and that also applies to Anna Wangenheim, said the PPK's representative, Navarana Johansen.

- That said, it gives rise to some surprise among us that a sitting Minister for Health and People with Disabilities is choosing to run for parliament right now, she stated.

Naalakkersuisoq for Health and People with Disabilities itself highlights the timing of her candidacy as a reason for the reactions.

- But unfortunately I don't decide the timing myself. There are parliamentary elections every four years, and it's now - and I would like to seize that opportunity now, she says and continues:

- Because I can see huge potential in - also in the health sector - how much more we can achieve through better cooperation with Christiansborg, because there are many decisions made there that affect our everyday lives here in Greenland.

She also emphasizes that the coalition's line in the health sector has been determined and will continue, regardless of who holds the position of Naalakkersuisoq for Health and People with Disabilities after March 24.

- So I'm not that worried. If I were to be elected, that line would be continued with respect for what is, after all, stated in our coalition agreement, she says.

- Being a Greenlander in this area must never ever become so personal that it ends up causing the entire foundation to totter without that person in office.

To voters like Irene Jensen and Dorte Benjaminsen, who would rather see Anna Wangenheim stay in her post in Greenlander, she replies:

- Thank you very much. It is not every day that we as politicians receive praise, so I am of course very flattered by that.

Although there are many other issues that she is also passionate about, Anna Wangenheim (D) will continue to speak out for the health care system from the chair of the Folketing, if that is where she ends up, she emphasizes.

- We need much greater cooperation, both with Denmark, but also with abroad, because health is an area that we simply cannot handle 100 percent on our own, as we do not have enough capacity, either human or financial, says Anna Wangenheim and adds:

- In addition, I will of course continue the work that I am currently doing (as naalakkersuisoq, ed.), and that the voters have elected me to do.