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long, consistent experience of campaigning, governing and manoeuvring places Siumut in a highly
advantageous position, within a political system where other parties split, reform, are born, or die on
a quite frequent basis. Even in coalition, Siumut’s large size has ensured it has exercised – and
continues to exercise – a pre-eminent influence over the direction and shape of the Greenlandic
political scene.
The way in which Siumut achieved its electoral victory highlights a second lesson – namely, the
importance of matching the personality, character and background of the leader with the mood of the
electorate. This is particularly so in countries of small population size, where the social, personal and
family links between ruler and ruled are so entwined. It is no accident that, in the aftermath of
Hammond’s expenses scandal, a well-regarded, former policeman with a reputation for integrity,
honesty and down-to-earth pragmatism was appointed Siumut’s acting leader. Kielsen’s more modest
style stands in stark contrast to Hammond’s, with the controversial topics of Greenlandic
independence and natural resource exploitation as the leitmotif of her premiership. While we can
expect Kielsen’s government to remain interested in future drilling and mining opportunities, it is
likely that this interest will be counterbalanced by a renewed emphasis on boosting profits from
existing industries firmly grounded in Greenland’s economic present. Such emphasis is likely to
include expanding value-added activities in Greenland’s all-important fishing industry, and improving
the infrastructure needed to in support of the growing tourism sector. Initiatives addressing other,
everyday social issues of concern throughout the electorate – such as housing, education and
unemployment – are also likely.
The final lesson to keep in mind is that, like other electorates of small population size, Greenland
cannot afford to dispose of its political leaders too quickly, or without serious cause. Since the
expenses scandal broke, the funds Hammond allegedly spent on personal costs have been repaid. In
June 2015, Hammond was elected to one of two seats in the Danish Parliament reserved for
Greenlandic representatives; she received the most personal votes of any of the candidates. At least
one political consultancy firm is not willing to rule out a return by Hammond to Greenlandic politics
sometime in the future.1 It may be that if Kielsen succeeds in delivering financial gains in the shortterm from Greenland’s already-established economic sectors, there might be a real opportunity later
on to pursue Hammond’s grand visions of the future. For now, however, Greenland remains a
country under construction’.2
Notes
1. See Polarisk Group, ‘Greenland: 2014 Parliamentary Election Briefing #1’ (October 20,
2014),
http://static1.squarespace.com/static/5389998be4b047723f046137/t/544637bce4b076f260
51ce1c/1413887932673/POLARISK+Greenland+2014+Election+Brief+%231.pdf.
2. The quote is from Kim Kielsen. See Noah Molgaard, ‘Greenland Election: Eyes on the
Possibilities’ The Arctic Journal (November 25, 2014).
http://arcticjournal.com/politics/1163/eyes-possibilities.
Greenland’s Election 2014