National Elections to Come, Independance, Cryolite Censured… February’s Wrap-Up

In response to U.S. moves on Kalaallit Nunaat, EU heads of state and government finally united in their clear and unequivocal support for Denmark (DR, February 3). Against this backdrop, the Inatsisartut, Kalaallit Nunaat’s parliament, has just passed a law banning political parties from receiving foreign or anonymous donations in order to “protect the integrity of the country” (Eye on the Arctic, February 5). On this subject, Kalaallit Nunaat’s Prime Minister, Mute B. Egede (Inuit Ataqatigiit, IA) has announced that general elections will be held on March 11. The main themes of the election campaign are expected to revolve around aspirations for independence, as well as relations with Denmark and the United States  (Eye on the Arctic, February 5). For Juno Berthelsen (Naleraq), “Trump’s comments and the US administration’s new line have definitely given the independence movement more momentum”. All national parties are in favor of independence, but differ on implementation. Kalaallit Nunaat’s current prime minister has said that if re-elected, he would call for an independence referendum (Eye on the Arctic, February 19). True to its position, the Naleraq party proposes immediate independence from Denmark. In a sign that independence is becoming an even more important issue for Kalaallit Nunaat’s political class, the national parliamentarian Kuno Fencker has left the party and joined Naleraq (DR, February 11), following in the footsteps of another key Siumut figure, Aki-Matilda Høegh-Dam, who has also left Siumut (KNR, February 7). Høegh-Dam, who previously saw independence as a long-term goal, said he now wanted to hold a vote on independence after next month’s general elections (Eye on the Arctic, February 7), before partially reversing this position (Sermitsiaq, February 26). Inatsisartut has also tightened the rules on property acquisition and land allocation, which will now be open only to people who have lived in Kalaallit Nunaat for two years and paid taxes in the country (Sermitsiaq, February 4). According to the documentary “The White Gold of Greenland”, broadcast and produced by DR, Danish Radio and Television, between 1854 and 1987, Denmark mined cryolite in Kalaallit Nunaat for a turnover of 400 billion kroner in today’s Denmark, provoking great indignation in Kalaallit Nunaat. For Siumut president Erik Jensen, the documentary shows that the desire for independence is not unrealistic: “It has reinforced our feeling that we can stand on our own two feet in Kalaallit Nunaat. That we’re not just an expense” (DR, February 10). Reversing the stigma, Kalaallit Nunaat’s prime minister invited us to ask: “What would Denmark have become without Kalaallit Nunaat?” (DR, February 9). For 130 years, cryolite was extracted from a mine in southwest Kalaallit Nunaat by Danish miners and shipped back to Denmark. For Sara Olsvig, President of the Inuit Circumpolar Council, “the documentary should give further impetus to Denmark’s journey towards a better understanding of itself as a colonial power” (Altinget, February 11). In Denmark, however, the documentary has triggered fierce criticism, particularly from the Conservative and Liberal parties, with Culture Minister Jakob Engel-Schmidt calling it “disinformation” (DR, February 12). Although several economists qualified the figures that had crystallized the criticism (DR, February 12), in the face of the controversy, DR finally decided to delete the controversial documentary and fire its editor-in-chief (Altinget, February 19). A “shameful” decision for the Kalaallit Nunaat’s Prime Minister (Sermitsiaq, February 20) and seen as “serious interference in the independent press, which could threaten press freedom” by the Greenland Media Association (Sermitsiaq, February 25). Nonetheless, the documentary contributes to documenting Denmark’s colonial history (DR, February 10; Altinget, February 27), and in particular the role of mining (Altinget, February), but also highlights a form of “denial” towards it (Altinget, February 27), and promises to be amply mobilized during the election campaign (DR, February 11). A new party, Qulleq, formed by former members of the Siumut and Naleraq parties, is expected to take part in the election campaign, having now collected enough voter declarations to give the party the right to run. The party intends to defend both a rapid independence of the country, and the acceleration of mining and oil exploitation (Sermitsiaq, February 7). Finally, Kenneth Høegh, head of Kalaallit Nunaat’s representation in Washington, is being considered as the next Arctic ambassador  (Sermitsiaq, February 21).