2013 Greenlandic general election

General elections were held in Greenland on 12 March 2013.[2] The opposition Siumut party emerged as the largest in Parliament, winning 14 of the 31 seats.[3] On 26 March Siumut leader Aleqa Hammond became Greenland's first female Prime Minister.[3][4]

2013 Greenlandic general election

12 March 2013
All 31 seats in the Inatsisartut 16 seats needed for a majority
Turnout	74.2% [1]
Party Leader % Seats ± Siumut Aleqa Hammond 43.22 14 +5 Inuit Ataqatigiit Kuupik Kleist 34.73 11 -3 Atassut Gerhardt Petersen 8.21 2 -1 Inuit Nikku Olsen 6.46 2 New Democrats Jens B. Frederiksen 6.26 2 -2 This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.
Prime Minister before Prime Minister after Kuupik Kleist Inuit Ataqatigiit Aleqa Hammond Siumut

Electoral system

The 31 members of Parliament were elected by proportional representation in multi-member constituencies.[5] In Nuuk there was just one polling station.[2]

Campaign

The main campaign issue was exploitation of the island's mineral wealth.[2] The ruling Inuit Ataqatigiit party supported allowing foreign workers, most of whom would be Chinese, into the country to work in the mining industry, whilst the Siumut party was opposed to the proposal.[2] Rare-earth elements were of particular concern.[6]

Results

Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	Siumut	12,910	43.22	14	5
	Inuit Ataqatigiit	10,374	34.73	11	–3
	Atassut	2,454	8.21	2	–1
	Inuit Party	1,930	6.46	2	New
	Democrats	1,870	6.26	2	–2
	Association of Candidates	326	1.09	0	–1
	Independents	9	0.03	0	–
Total		29,873	100.00	31	0
Valid votes		29,873	99.13
Invalid/blank votes		263	0.87
Total votes		30,136	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		40,613	74.20
Source: Election Passport, Parties & Elections

Government formation

Following the election results, Siumut leader Aleqa Hammond claimed that she was "in no hurry to form a coalition" and would wait to hear the demands of the other parties.[7] Hammond ultimately formed a government with Atassut and the Inuit Party.[4] Siumut took six of the eight cabinet posts, with Solidarity taking the Health and Infrastructure portfolio and the Inuit Party taking the Environment portfolio.[4]

References

1. Valgresultater Archived 2014-03-03 at the Wayback Machine valg.gl (Hentet 13-03-2013)
2. Mining question dominates Greenland poll BBC News, 12 March 2013
3. Mining proponents win Greenland election AP, 13 March 2013
4. "Female premier to head Greenland". Europe Online Magazine. March 26, 2013. Retrieved 26 March 2013.
5. Election Profile IFES
6. Greenland Votes to Get Tough on Investors; New Ruling Party Campaigned to Backtrack on Country's Recent Opening to Investment From Foreign Mining Ventures, March 13, 2013, Wall Street Journal.
7. Greenland votes for change Nunatsiaq Online, 13 March 2013