Greenland Government - 1985

GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES 

Official name: Greenland

Type: self-governing province of Kingdom of Denmark; two representatives in Danish parliament; separate Minister for Greenland in the Danish Gabinet

Capital: Godthab (Nuuk)

Political subdivisions: 3 counties, 19 communes

Legal system: Danish law, transformed from colony to province in 1953; limited home rule began in spring 1979

Branches: legislative authority rests jointly with the elected 26-seat Landsting and Danish parliament; executive power vested in Premier and four-person council; 19 lower courts

Government leaders: MARGRETHE II, Queen (since January 1972); Jonathan MOTZFELDT, Prime Minister (since May 1979)

Suffrage: universal, but not compulsory, over age 21

Elections: held every four years; most recent, 6 June 1984

Political parties: Siumut, 11 seats (moderate socialist, advocating more distinct Greenland identity and greater autonomy from Denmark); Atassut Party, 11 seats (more conservative, favors continuing close relations with Denmark); Inuit Ataqatigiit, 3 seats (Marxist-Leninist party favoring complete independence from Denmark rather than home rule)

NOTE: The information regarding Greenland on this page is re-published from the 1985 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency and other sources. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Greenland 1985 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Greenland 1985 should be addressed to the CIA or the source cited on each page.