Elections in Greenland took place for the first time only in 1981 when the country gained the status of self-government. As a Danish colony Greenland's political system was in the hands of the Danes. After Greenland achieved its independence from Denmark it set up its own parliament and started to elect the government of the country. Thus elections in Greenland are a relatively new political activity.
Greenland has Queen of Denmark Margrethe, the 11th queen, as the chief of state and Prime Minister Hans Enoksen as the head of the government. The assembly consists of a
unicameral parliament which is called Landstinget and has 31 seats. The elections in Greenland are held by the government on a national level. The government elects the legislature for a term of four years by the method of
proportional representation. Every citizen of Greenland above 18 years of age is eligible for voting. Voting is in the form of
universal suffrage.
Greenland, having a
multi party system, conducts parliamentary elections after every four years. The major parties of the country are:
- Forward (Siumut)
- Feeling of Community (Atassut)
- Inuit Community or Eskimo Community (Inuit Ataqatigiit)
- Democrats (Demokraatit)
- Women's Party (Arnat Partiiat)
- Independents (Kattusseqatigiit)
The elections are held to choose 31 members of the parliament who are elected by proportional representation. The
monarchy is hereditary and no elections are conducted to choose the monarch.
The two major parliamentary elections were held in February 16, 1999 and November 22, 2005. Elections apart from these were held in the following years: 1979, 1983, 1984, 1987, 1991, 1995, and 2002.
The organization and management of the general elections fall under the charge of the
High Commissioner and the implementation of the elections are looked after by
Local authorities.
