A new, historic coalition agreement has now been signed, paving the way for the formation of a broad new government consisting of all parties except Naleraq, awaiting approval from the Greenlandic Parliament.
The ceremony took place in the small hall in Katuaq in Nuuk, where the whole world's camera lenses were focused on the party leaders' speeches, and the Greenlandic population was also gathered.
Before the speeches, a choir sang the national anthem, and when it was all over, Juakka Lyberth played a song with his band, which made both private individuals and politicians sway in their chairs to the rhythm of the music.
The new government consists of four out of five parties.
The coalition was presented to the population – and the world – together with the coalition agreement, which is 20 pages long, on March 28.
The Prime Minister will be Jens-Frederik Nielsen, who is also chairman of Demokraatit.
Minister for Finance and Taxes will be Múte B. Egede.
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Research will continue to be Vivian Motzfeldt.Minister for Education, Culture, Sports and Churches will be Nivi Olsen.
Minister for Business, Trade, Minerals, Justice and Equality will continue to be Naaja H. Nathanielsen.
Minister for Health and Disability will be Anna Wangenheim.
Minister for Children, Youth and Families will be Mads Pedersen.
Minister for Fisheries, Hunting, Agriculture and Self-Sustainability will be Peter Borg.
Minister for Social Affairs, Labour Market, Home Affairs will be Bentiaraq Ottosen.
Minister for Housing, Infrastructure and Outlying Areas will be Aqqaluaq B. Egede.
For the next four years, the 20 pages will form the basis for the cooperation between the four parties Demokraatit, Inuit Ataqatigiit, Siumut and Atassut.
The very first thing that is stated in the agreement is:
We stand together for our country. This is more important than ever before.
The agreement covers several points, including independence, foreign policy, the fisheries agreement and much more.
In addition, the coalition parties emphasize in their agreement that Greenland is open for trade – but not for sale.
Here are some highlights from the agreement.
The new coalition will ensure that the work in the committee on paragraph 21 continues and is completed. After that, all parties in Parliament will be involved in the negotiations.
The coalition parties agree that it is not sufficient to only work on the framework for an independent state. They emphasize that culture must be developed as part of the state-building process.
The coalition emphasizes that fishing must be sustainable in local communities, and that it is important to preserve fishing in individual settlements. The agreement also reveals that the coalition will establish a fisheries council to advise the Greenland Government in the area. In the same way that the Economic Council provides guidance.
The coalition parties will ensure that the airport construction in Tasiilaq and Ittoqqortoormiit is initiated in the new election period, the agreement states. They believe that it is important that there is more accessibility in the future, 'which takes into account both tourism and local needs.'
The first thing that is under the coalition's health policy is that the health settlement from 2023 must be expanded. The parties further write that 'a strong health system is the foundation of a welfare society.' And that is why it is absolutely crucial, they write in the agreement.
The parties state in the agreement that the biggest problem today in health is the lack of qualified personnel. Therefore, recruiting and retaining all personnel groups must be the central focus of the work.
It is important to establish that Greenland is part of the Western alliance. There must be no doubt about this, the agreement states.
In addition, it states that the coalition will continue to work based on the foreign strategy that was presented in 2024 with the title "Greenland in the world – nothing about us, without us."
However, due to the new geopolitical situation, they will update the strategy so that it is up-to-date with the new and upcoming challenges.
The goal is to protect both the population and the country at a time when the world's eyes are on the Arctic regions.
Despite numerous talks and discussions about raw materials, it is not a topic that gets many lines in the coalition agreement.It appears that raw materials are a 'central part of Greenland's future economy', and that foreign capital must be 'attracted' by intensifying cooperation with countries that want to buy minerals from Greenland.
They want to develop a screening strategy that will ensure that investments in extraction yield returns, and are thereby in the 'country's interest, and that they will contribute positively to general development.
The new Greenland government prioritizes unity in a time of international pressure. Domestic reforms must wait.
It wasn't many hours from the time the new coalition was presented with cheers and tears of joy to the time when US Vice President J.D. Vance landed at Pituffik Space Base.
If Jens-Frederik Nielsen and the other members of the Greenland government had forgotten, they were quickly reminded that there is no time to sit back and enjoy the moment – the plane's arrival at around 2:00 p.m. emphasized that the work is already underway.
Upon arrival, J.D. Vance said to the press present:
We respect the Greenlanders' right to self-determination, but if they choose to do so, we can be a better partner than Denmark in ensuring the security of the country and the Greenlanders. Because Denmark has not done a good job.
But the message of the new coalition is clear: Unity. A principle that, according to the coalition agreement, is more important than ever before.
That was also what the newly appointed chairman of the Greenlandic government, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, emphasized in an interview with KNR immediately after the presentation of the coalition:
We are under pressure from outside. If we do not join forces, our results will be minimal. Therefore, we are pleased that our message of unity and the necessity of broad cooperation today has become a reality.
With a coalition that unites four of the five parties in Parliament – and thus represents 75 percent of the votes from the election on March 11 – this is a very broad political collaboration.
It took 17 days from the election results to the leaders of the four coalition parties – Demokraatit, Inuit Ataqatigiit, Siumut and Atassut – taking the stage to present their coalition agreement.
Reading the agreement, it quickly becomes clear that the policy in several areas is unclear. The coalition suggests that reforms in the fisheries and tax areas will only be addressed later in the government period.
On the other hand, there is harmony when it comes to foreign and security policy.
Múte B. Egede, who during yesterday's ceremony symbolically exchanged the position of chairman of the Government for the role of Minister for finance and taxes, had exactly the same message to the press as Jens-Frederik Nielsen:
The time requires Greenlandic unity and unity. In Inuit Ataqatigiit, we therefore assume joint responsibility and prioritize cooperation. The new election period brings lots of tasks and increased pressure from outside, he said.
The chairman of Atassut, Aqqalu C. Jerimiassen, who has chosen to decline a ministerial position this time, shares the view that the pressure from the United States requires unity.
We believe that it is necessary for our country and people that we participate in Government, while the situation with the United States is as it is. We four parties are on the same wavelength. For a while, we will put aside our differences and instead focus on a common goal.
While Demokraatit, Atassut and IA agree that the pressure from the USA is worrying, Siumut's chairman, Vivian Motzfeldt, who continues as Minister for Foreign Affairs, sounds a slightly different tone.
In connection with JD Vance visit, she recently wrote on her private Facebook profile: Instead of worrying, we should now examine how the opportunities that arise can benefit our country.
The message is clear: the U.S. interest should be seen as an opportunity. And that position holds true even though she is now a Minister in a new coalition.
I want to repeat the clear message that our country is not for sale. The future of Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders. That said, we must welcome countries that want to cooperate with us, she told KNR when the coalition agreement was presented.
The new coalition will only formally enter into force once it has been approved by Parliament.
Source:
Assit takukkit: Naalakkersuisoqatigiilernissamut atsioqatigiittoqarnera qullilinermik, nuannaarnermik nipilersornermillu ilaqartoq / KNR (in Greenlandic)
Naalakkersuisoqatigiinnissamut isumaqatigiissut nutaaq aana / KNR (in Greenlandic)
USA-mit tatineqarneq naalakkersuisoqatigiilertut tunngavigigaat / KNR (in Greenlandic)
Also read the publication:
Sweden: JD Vance Made a Quick Visit to Greenland—Opens for More Visits
