The Greenlandic political system

In 2004 Greenland celebrated its 25th anniversary of Home Rule, and today constitutes a young and maturing, but free and stable democracy. 

Greenland has long been an integral part of the kingdom of Denmark, but enjoys self-government or shared jurisdiction on more and more political areas.

Greenland Home Rule consists of the parliament and the government. The Parliament, Inatsisartut, which has 31 members assembles twice a year and is elected for a four-year period.

Brief political history of Greenland
Greenland was a colony to Denmark until 1953, and became an integral part of the Kingdom of Denmark after Denmark had an amendment of the Danish Constitution in which Greenland had its status renewed and became a constituency in the Danish Kingdom alongside the Faroe Islands.

However, with the fast growing modernization of the Greenlandic society demands for greater economic and political independence grew as well. In January 1979 a referendum on greater autonomous local government, termed Home Rule, was held in which 63 % of the voters voted in favour of Greenlandic Home Rule. On May 1, 1979, Greenland Home Rule was established.

Greenland Home Rule, Parliament, Government and flag
The Greenland Home Rule Act was granted to Greenland on May 1, 1979. (Act No. 577 of 29 November 1978), giving Greenland the right to elect its own parliament and government, the latter having sovereignty and administration over most political areas.
 
The Greenlandic parliament is called “Inatsisartut” - or the “Landsting”. It is composed of 31 members who are elected for a 4-year period and usually assembles twice a year (autumn and spring).

The Parliament approves the executive government “Naalakkersuisut” - or the “Landsstyre”, which is responsible for the central administration headed by a Premier with a cabinet.

More information on the Greenlandic Home rule can be found at http://www.nanoq.gl/

Greenland's own flag received its official introduction on 21 of June 1985, which is also Greenland's national day. The white half of the flag symbolizes the inland ice, icebergs and ice floes, while the red half symbolizes the rising and setting sun, which gives the sea its beautiful red sheen.

Relationship to Denmark
Greenland is still a part of the Kingdom of Denmark. Greenland was first colonized with the arrival of the Danish/Norwegian missionary, Hans Egede, in 1721, and it was not until the Danish constitutional amendment of 1953 that Greenland became a more equal partner in the Danish realm.

The influence of the Danish state in Greenland has decreased since 1979 when the Home Rule was introduced. Despite this there are still areas in which Greenland does not hold full autonomous jurisdiction i.e. defence and national security, foreign affairs, monetary policy.

There is a continuous effort to increase the autonomy of Greenland in cooperation with the Danish Government and parliament. The relationship between Greenland and Denmark has always been one of friendship despite the cultural and physical distances.

Foreign affairs
Foreign and security policy is a Danish jurisdiction according to the Constitution of the Danish Kingdom, but the Danish government involves the Greenlandic Home Rule in the administration of foreign affairs and security matters in order to strengthen the Greenlandic foreign affairs profile.

Within the framework of the Home Rule Act, Greenland can open representations/missions in countries with special commercial interest for Greenland. The Greenland Representation to the EU in Brussels was established in this context on June 1, 1992.

Despite of the legal context, Greenland has a firm tradition of participating in international affairs, both through its Nordic and arctic links through its economic and trade interests.

Greenland participates actively in Nordic co-operation, arctic co-operation, the UN, the WTO and the EU and engages in bilateral communication with various countries around the world.