Greenland
Government party calls for independence referendum
Siumut, a social democratic party and the junior party in Greenland's current two-party government, wants a referendum on independence from Denmark within the new political mandate beginning after the March election.
The party wants to activate paragraph 21 in the Greenland Self-Government Act, passed by the Danish Parliament in 2009. "Decisions regarding Greenland’s independence shall be taken by the people of Greenland," the law reads.
According to Erik Jensen, the party's chairman, the activation of Article 21 and negotiations with Denmark must lead to a referendum in Greenland. And it shouldn't take too long.
"I expect it to happen within the next election period. But it must be on an informed basis so that the population is in no doubt about the consequences."
"We have a welfare society that must function. We have some economic aspects that we also need to look at," he told Danish national broadcaster DR.
The party wants to activate paragraph 21 in the Greenland Self-Government Act, passed by the Danish Parliament in 2009. "Decisions regarding Greenland’s independence shall be taken by the people of Greenland," the law reads.
According to Erik Jensen, the party's chairman, the activation of Article 21 and negotiations with Denmark must lead to a referendum in Greenland. And it shouldn't take too long.
"I expect it to happen within the next election period. But it must be on an informed basis so that the population is in no doubt about the consequences."
"We have a welfare society that must function. We have some economic aspects that we also need to look at," he told Danish national broadcaster DR.